To call the police on this family?

[catofdoom]

I live on a dirt road. It's single track and very windy. This particular part has a sheer drop off to the ocean.

Driving home with ds yesterday afternoon and out of nowhere two kids (between 10 and 12 I think) jump out at me and start pelting my car with water balloons. Trying to get them through the driver's window. (Luckily they didn't.)

They are my next door neighbours. They're only here for a month in the summer though.

It scared the absolute shit out of me. How I didn't crash in to a tree or go off the road I don't know.

I stopped and told them what a horrible thing to do it was and how dangerous it could have been. They laughed at me and ran off.

I drove home, turned around and drove back to go and speak to their parents (I'd seen the car home.)

Coming back they did it again!

I carried on past their house to go and sit further up the road and have a think. DH then came home and they did it to him too! He got out of the car and they ran off, their Mother was outside, dh told her what they'd been doing and she walked off and slammed the door in his face.

Turns out they did it to my brother in law the day before. They've been sat by the road with a big bucket of water balloons for a couple of days. Their Mother must have know, the only windows of the house and the porch look down at the road.

Anyway, so since we've had no apology. If it were my son I'd have marched him round there furious to apologise.

I want to lodge a complaint with the police (I've already spoken to the local policeman but he's not on duty until tomorrow night.) DH thinks we shouldn't stir things up. I think they could do with a talking to, I'm annoyed their parents clearly don't give a shit. Plus, if it happens again they could cause a nasty accident.

So I guess it's more of a - what would you do?

Also, we're in the States in an extremely low crime area (one burglary in 10 years) so I won't be wasting police time, they'd actually be thrilled to have something to do rather than sit on the side of the road trying to catch speeders.

could you go by with dh & catch them on film as evidence? maybe your friendly officer might find a way of using this as an education tool in school [& the little blighters would be publicly shamed]

Be a decoy. Have your husband sneak up on them and soak the ever living daylights out if them. Then slam the door in their mother's face if she has the nerve to show up at your door. Or maybe just soak her too.

Totally missing the point but op I want to live where you live it sounds lovely!

Also Report them aside from it being dangerous do they not have any respext for the people who actually live there permenantly?

If the family is black and in America then the question 'will the police shoot them?' is not an irrelevant question.

More white people are shot by police in America than black people, and it's not a relavent question. There are a very, very small minority of police officers who don't act appropriately. The vast majority don't shoot people for no reason, regardless of race.

Yes there are racists but Britain is hardly covering itself in glory right now either.

Damn right we're not!

Problem is - TV reports never show Sheriff Telling Off Boys For Knocking On Doors And Running Away - they just show Trigger Happy Cops Gun Down Six Year Old For Asking For Sprinkles On Ice Cream.

America has a reputation for being one of the world's most dangerous countries.

It can't be as bad as it seems, or everybody would be dead!

Please report this before there is an awful accident cat

Yes there are racists but Britain is hardly covering itself in glory right now either

So true

Oh

And tell us what the upshot* of it is, please.

I\d be interested to know.

*Possibly an unfortunate turn of phrase.

I've since found out they've done it to two others too.

I think you have to report this. They could cause serious injury. Their parents are fools.

@Pallisters oh I didnt know you only have guns in Chicago

If the family is black and in America then the question 'will the police shoot them?' is not an irrelevant question.

Urgh. Go back to reading the Daily Fail.

To op, yes report them. Film them even. Dangerous behaviour like that being ignored by the parent would also (in the UK) result in a child at risk referral to SW.

On another note, am I the only person slightly concerned as to how this street is even safe for people to live on given its proximity to cliffs

I’d love to have an update when you’ve spoken to the local policeman. He sounds ace. It all sounds very Hamish Macbeth/doc Martin.

More white people are shot by police in America than black people, and it's not a relavent question. There are a very, very small minority of police officers who don't act appropriately. The vast majority don't shoot people for no reason, regardless of race.

Fair enough but that doesn’t make it a stupid question. All countries have their problems, and tbh the more people who are aware of them (and interested in getting a more balanced view by asking the right questions) the better, IMO.

My own country (non-UK) is very far from perfect, but it would be ridiculous to bring that up in a discussion about US police. The US is a massive country, other people can’t be expected to know the ins and outs of every area without asking.

I would absolutely report it.

More white people are shot by police in America than black people

I don't want to derail the thread but did just want to comment on this as an aside: @steff13, there are almost six times more white people than black people in America, so your comment doesn't have any statistical significance and is misleading.

Black people make up a little over 12% of the population, yet 30% of those fatally shot by police are black, and in 2015 five times more young black men were fatally shot by police than young white men.

Sorry everyone for going off-topic, but I did feel this needed to be pointed out in light of that comment.

OP, I hope your awesome policeman has stern words with these boys and they never dare do something so stupid again.

@Pallisters oh I didnt know you only have guns in Chicago hmm

No. Actually all police forces are armed in the United States. I do understand that people who only know the US from tv might make the mistake of thinking that a rural police force in a coastal vacation area might be likely to mow down 10 and 12 year olds without compunction. Luckily I (and others) are here to tell you that is as silly as warning someone visiting Mull for their holidays that they should watch out for roving gangs of knife-wielding youths.

Maybe social services also need a call if the parents are deliberately ignoring their children's dangerous behaviour.

Definitely report OP. It is dangerous.
Btw it sounds lovely and peaceful where you live, low crime too, blissful.

On another note, am I the only person slightly concerned as to how this street is even safe for people to live on given its proximity to cliffs

You and me both! When there's two inches of ice or mud on the road it's terrifying. Most of our friends won't visit in the winter or mud season. We been asking for barriers for years.

There's only two people past our house though and one of those is also only here for a month so we're probably not worth the expense.

Those two people happen to be quite old and frail, I just spoke to one of them about this and she said if it had been her husband he could have had a heart attack. She's pretty upset.

I'm going to call the off island deputy now. I can't believe we've had no apology from them yet. I dread to think what kind of future adults these kids will make with such shitty guidance.

There is a little part of me that's nervous that they'll do something to retaliate.

As a Brit in rural USA I love the complete lack of crime. We don’t lock our home, or cars. The police are wonderful and caring.

Called the local deputy who I couldn't get off the phone. Said he's thrilled as he was looking to be bored stiff and is heading over now.

Said he'll stop by my house afterwards for an update so now I'm going to frantically tidy the house!!!!

I love the sound of where you live OP, but not the sound of that road! I hope he puts the fear of God in them.

When you are not not reading the Root look up some actual FBI crime stats
The FBI stats support the idea that police kill a disproportionate number of black people.

More white people are shot by police in America than black people, and it's not a relavent question
13% black population v 63% white so it actually IS relevant in a discussion of police shootings which this thread actually isn't about so apologies for the derail. Just didn't want to leave inaccurate or disingenuous info unanswered though I see now it isn't.

Oh, and the stats on UNARMED black shooting victims is even starker.

Can we not start with the anti American sentiment please?

To be fair, young black men have been shot for less so I do think it was a valid question. You didn’t say if they were POC or not but if they were, I’d probably think twice.

If I thought it would do any good I might call the police, but more likely I’d get myself a stock of balloons and fight water with water.

@catofdoom - I recall you from your AMA thread! You did the right thing calling it in and I hope you're having a lovely summer.