Someone stole all the Halloween treats 😡

[Usernamqwerty]

I went out around 4pm for 20 minutes to pick up the kids and we come back to discover everything gone... I put out a pumpkin on top of a plastic storage box (rain protection) with two bowls of miniature packets Cadbury chocolates and some selfish git has swiped the lot...

Why are some people so selfish?
AIBU to not bother next year? 😭

I like to think of myself as pretty assertive but it can be intimidating opening the door to a group of teenagers taller than me wearing masks in the dark grabbing at sweets from a bowl. We were fortunate this year that only a couple of teenagers came, no masks and really sweet lads but I do think there comes a point they need to more aware that it might make people uncomfortable.

I’m genuinely shocked and feels quite sad that anyone is surprised- where on earth do you all live that you think kids won’t take everything they can?

Most kids here just take one sweet/packet of sweets each and I judge parents who look on adoringly while their kids grab handfuls of sweets again and again until I pull the bowl away

Last year my friend not only had her bowl emptied but they took the bowl as well!

This year, I was out at prime time (6.15pm - 7.30pm). About 5 groups had already been since about 5.30pm. I left the bowl out knowing it would be empty when I got back. Quite how long it took to empty I don't know.
We all like to think it wouldn't be our own kids taking more than their fair share.

In fact it probably was my DS. He's 13 and was upstairs in his room while I was out. He probably waited for the car to leave, has swiped the lot and will sell them at school tomorrow.

nb he didn't and he wouldn't because he's already been pulled up on that particular enterprise

some of these responses are actually quite sad, we had lots of trick or treaters and gave sweets then we went out with our kids and left a bowl, whilst we were out quite a few houses had bowls and buckets outside and non were empty most were full and it was around 6:15 when we went out, came back to our bowl still half full. Hate that some spoil it for the rest

I’m in London and have never experienced this - only kids taking a respectful amount.

That will indeed mean empty bowels ...

Maybe kids living in villages are so bored that making off with free sweets is literally the highlight of their year?

Because it's give and take.

I wouldn't expect others to give my DS sweets if I'm not also prepared to give sweets to others. Seems too grabby and selfish.

Round here, the few teenagers or year 7s and 8s tend to go out a bit later. A few houses go all out with the scary decorations and adults hiding in bushes etc.
We're in a village so it's known, or people will post on the village FB page.
So, once the unicorns and little devils have passed through with their parents, you can choose to bring the pumpkin in and shut up shop.

Lots of empty bowels very early in the evening.

That’ll be the Haribo.

I do completely agree that groups of teens can be intimidating. I like to think of myself as assertive, but I always check my camera before I go to the door to see if I want to answer it at Halloween.
Had a bad experience years ago when I was a kid and some teens threw a lit firework in our house.
Genuinely don't think it would happen where I live now but it's always in my mind at Halloween.

Wonder If it's more a village thing? We live in Manchester, not the actual city but not a village - seems like some of the posters who have had better luck with the bowls left out are people living in bigger cities? 🤷🏻‍♀️ kids in a little village that get together to swipe the whole load of sweets might find it easier living closer and being able to join up to do it? Really sad though and ruins it for so many others ☹️

You’re advocating hitting children

Our estate is literally a Halloween destination - they get dropped off in groups - one year 2 mini buses dropped a load of kids off and the adults sat with the buses drinking cans 😭. We haven't had quite as many this year - and nearly all were with adults and polite. It was constant from 5-7, when I went to pilates and my DP battoned down the hatches. Out neighbour had their bowl emptied, very early.

I had my whole bowel of sweets including the bowel Stolen tonight . Took the kids out for an hour and by the time we got back it had gone . Found the empty bowel up the road . My own fault I shouldn’t have put it out and been so trusting but my estate never has any trouble and so quiet , it’s always all about the little ones on Halloween. My guess it was some stupid young teens thinking it’s funny or a dare ! Luckily my kids weren’t too bothered as they just thought everyone has taken some and had run out . I’m so annoyed though , just so mean xx

Just senseless isn't it? Like it's not even worth it in the long run it's just a large amount of sweets? But to steal them from lots of other kids is just awful. I'd be angry too!

Same happened on our estate thanks to some rough kids 🤬 the same idiots stole and smashed a pumpkin. They got chased off the estate by one of the dads!

We're in a village. Most children were walking round with parents. Knocking. Waiting politely. Talking one. Saying thank you. But then, there was a group of 9/10 year old boys running round, screaming, grabbing. Everywhere they went they grabbed whole bowls and the little ones got none. It was horrible to see. No parents with them.

Put mine out at 5 today, closed the door- 2minutes later heard voices and checked through the peephole and it was the Amazon driver helping himself to loads of sweets, caught him red handed- he then asked if he could take some- the cheek!

I'm in a rural town and had much worse experiences when I lived in a city. Kids in our area all go to the school in our area and most of us know each other.

Don't be so mean. Why should those who would struggle to open the door to a load of strangers miss out.

Miss out ??
How do you work that out ? How can not getting up and down to answer the door all evening, and not giving kids you don't even know, be seen as missing out ?

Exactly why I didn’t bother this year. Youngest dd out trick or treating with her friend, me and my friend in the pub…wasn’t going to leave a whole bowl of sweets for one selfish little dick to swipe in one go.

Just to clarify to anyone who didn't see My post... I didn't say let's wallop them, Iam against hitting children. I think it was taken down because I alluded that badly raised children like them give people justification about corporal punishment. I don't think it was fairly taken down.
No idea whether or not this one will be.
I stand by my point they are badly raised, need active parents in their lives and both phones and sweets taken.