Kids/teens messing around in shops

[Auburngal]

I hate the school holidays.

What’s this thing with groups of kids (10+ years) going round shops, running around, messing with displays and dropping breakable stuff on purpose (either a mug or food related).

When we ask for them to leave - they swear at us. Then try to come in again.

When I was their age, my friends and I didn’t do this awful behaviour. We went round to each other’s houses and do stuff.

I don’t remember my ex who worked at a supermarket when I was with him (different chain to where I’m working - I wasn’t working in retail then) mentioning a similar thing nor my colleagues who have worked in the same store for 25+ years.

These kids/teens come in of groups of 4-10. Acting like they are isn’t big or clever. Would you be ashamed if you heard your DC did similar things in shops?

This is one reason why many smaller shops have signs to only allow 2 kids or no kids should be allowed in unless they have a responsible adult with them.

The kids/teens behaviour is annoying both staff and customers.

AIBU - they shouldn’t do things like this
AINBU - not bothered (shame on you)

YANBU

I went into a supermarket in my town centre at lunchtime a few days ago . . . they have a pick & mix sweet section at the end of one of the aisles facing the checkouts. Two security guys were standing either side of it because, according to the checkout lady, schoolchildren come in at lunchtime and stand there eating the sweets. The local school is a secondary school.

Absolutely ridiculous . . . . if we ever misbehaved whilst we were wearing school uniform we would have been punished by the school.

It's the inevitable consequence of children knowing they won't be punished. It's the same thought process as the Ghey killers had, the belief that they can do what they want and they will get away with it. Unfortunately in the case of lower level crime this is usually true. Only when they push it way too far do they occasionally get prosecuted, even then their sentences are incredibly lenient.

If I'd behaved in the manner you describe I'd have been given a detention or suspended by my school and severe punishment at home. That's just not true now - many/most parents will stand by their kids no matter what, schools are not able to issue punishments that will make a child think twice and parents won't.

I work in b&m and this does my head in. They steal vapes and juice. They are very cocky. Police are aware but do very little to help us.
They set off our store alarm by tampering with garden centre gates. They've walked into our warehouse before. Hid in shelves.
Always the kids with their hoods up, scooters and in a group. I would be ashamed if it were my children 😖

YANBU.

There should be real consequences for them. There’s no excuse for it.

I wouldn’t have dreamed of behaving like this as a child/teen but unfortunately I don’t think it’s new.

The local private school pupils used to steal and cause damage to my Mother’s restaurant in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. It was a regular occurrence.

" I would be ashamed if it were my children "
That's one of the issues parents are not ashamed. Many parents let there young kids use the shop as playgrounds as they are walking around.

They let them graze as they walk around the shop and often don't pay for items.

Yanbu, raised to be scum