Aibu or is it just kids being kids?

[PositivelyPositiveAboutNothing]

Having a problem around our estate recently with kids (about 11/12ish) banging on doors and running off. And it really is banging, not just knocking.

I just rolled my eyes at first but it's really starting to fucking annoy me.

I've just been woken up by it again (heavily pregnant and really struggling to sleep at night so having to take naps when I can at the moment), it sets our dog off every time too and I have to get up and go to the door in case it's a delivery or actually someone there.

People have posted about it on our local page, some even with CCTV pictures asking if their parents recognise them, speak to them and so on and they just get told to stop being pathetic, it's just kids being kids, it's just a knock etc... but it's getting stupid now it's been going on for weeks. A lady posted the other week because it was happening to her mum, an old lady who lives alone, and it terrified her.

If I could be fast enough to catch them at it, I feel like letting my fucking dog out to chase them off (he's soft but he is a bit intimidating if you don't know him, especially when barking and someone's at the front door).

I'm really losing my patience with the little shits.

This is happening in my friend’s estate at the minute too. They’re really hammering or kicking the doors. It scares the life out of her. Not sure what to do. Don’t give them a reaction. Perhaps community police? And ask if they can do some patrols at the times it’s likely to happen?

@Smallsteps88

This is happening in my friend’s estate at the minute too. They’re really hammering or kicking the doors. It scares the life out of her. Not sure what to do. Don’t give them a reaction. Perhaps community police? And ask if they can do some patrols at the times it’s likely to happen?

Yes they were kicking the door of this old ladies house from the post on FB by her daughter.

People were moaning because there were pictures of them on FB (of the kids, from someone's CCTV). I don't get it, if this was my child, the last of my concern would be someone taking their picture! I'd be furious with my child.

There isn't a great police presence round here tbh. It's quite a small village so I'm not sure they would do anything but I can give it a go.

I've told DH we'll have to sort some lockable gates on the front asap if it carries on (we have a drive which they come up).

Get a super soaker and sit waiting for them?

I’m petty though. You might get egged for it.

Clearly the "kids being kids brigade" are the parents........

I guess it's a bit of lockdown boredom.

But seriously they are real cocky little so and sos as well!! Someone shouted at a group of them to stop the other week and it was all 'you can't do anything to us we're kids' type stuff.

They'll end up doing it to the wrong house and getting a swipe though soon, people are getting really angry about it round here.

@LibrariesGiveUsPower45321

Get a super soaker and sit waiting for them?

I’m petty though. You might get egged for it.

Someone's house did get egged actually, a fair bit away from me though. They actually found the parents of one of them and he was made to go round and apologise to the lady. I don't think it's the same group though.

We used to have an awful bloody dc hang out our back gate shouting abuse. Few shots with a cold hose got rid...

@Santaisironingwrappingpaper

We used to have an awful bloody dc hang out our back gate shouting abuse. Few shots with a cold hose got rid...

I'll have to do something like this. Just need to be fast enough to catch them. It's always when DH is at work annoyingly! And I'm fat and slow at the minute 😂

You could phone the school if you think you know which one they go to? We have this issue occasionally and the comp across the road gives a generalised bollocking and it stops

I did this once when I was a kid, my mun (who was usually very permissive) had a right go at me and let me know how bloody unacceptable it was. It pisses people off who have been at work all day or might be at home ill and could potentially lead to an elderly neighbour having a fall. I didn't do it again. So in conclusion it's not necessarily shocking a kid would think to do it but it's definitely not OK for adults to be condoning it.

That said local Facebook groups are ridiculous for some of these 'kids will be kids' comments. There use to be a group of local lads who would deliberately cycle their bikes in front of moving vehicles on a main road, forcing them to do an emergency stop, it happened to my mum and really shook her up - she just stopped in time. Even then people were saying it's just 'boys being boys' and 'kids can't do anything nowadays', 'at least they're not mugging old ladies' etc.

Get your DH to go to the door and offer them sweets/pet his puppy if they come inside. They’ll never come near your door again.