Kid barged in my house

[Ontobetterthings]

I wfh today. I had a load of banging on the door. I answered it thinking it was a delivery. There was a boy there about 12. I thought maybe he come round to see my son though I didn't know him. My son is at sports camp today though

Before I could even say anything he ran in my house and barged past me and tried to get up the stairs. I grabbed him by the arm and asked him what he was doing. I was worried as my daughter was in bed and didn't want anyone I don't know upstairs.

I asked him repeatedly what he was doing and he wouldn't answer
He just kept trying to get up the stairs. I said you don't barge into people's houses. Eventually he said toilet. I was thinking perhaps he could go to my downstairs toilet but he ran off. I don't think English was his first language. I noticed he wasn't wearing any shoes either.

I just feel very shaken by the whole thing.

No it doesn't. She said he ran off.

I lived in the midlands - west midlands town - and we had a boy around 12 come knocking at door. We'd had a break in so had outer porch fitted and that was locked that day - so opened inner door and boy kept trying to get in and then get me to open outside door - I had young mobile kids so decline couldn't get answer and he didn't look in distress as to what the problem was and he went.

Thought no more of it - just odd thing - read in newspaper and heard from others it was a scam - they'd try round the back with you distracted at front of house - which was all locked up or barge past you and grab what they could.

So I'd report to none emergency number - either boy is in distress and needs help or it's a scam. These days with so much CTTV and ring bells I image they can more easily chase it up.

I’d think maybe a child with SEN. I work with children with SEN and have known a few children who would abscond and let themselves into other peoples houses, for example one teen boy who let himself into an old couple’s house because he wanted to watch formula one and just sat himself at their television. He was missing about half an hour but thankfully the couple called police as did his family when he absconded so he was located.

A lot of children with SEN have a preference for being barefoot due to sensory issues and wouldn’t be able to answer questions easily and wouldn’t recognise that it is entirely inappropriate to enter another persons house. I agree with those suggesting it would be sensible to log with the police as he could be a vulnerable young boy who has absconded and whose family or carers are looking for him.

Ah, I assumed she meant ran off to her toilet. I guess not.

First thought is maybe escaped from people traffickers

I wouldn’t have let him go upstairs either but I’d call the police.

Or a potential thief, I would always favour my family where there's any possible doubt.

Police. It's a common tactic in my area for a Roma child to distract at the front whilst their adult comes round the back to rob, or vice versa. Imagine if the boy did that to a vulnerable person?

To be clear - a 12 year old thief is a vulnerable child.

What would have needed to happen in your DC's lives for them to be burglars at 12?

I agree!! Poor boy. I'd be also shaken by an experience like this. Sorry OP. Maybe knock all aa many neighbours doors as you can? See if anyone recognises him or if he's tried to run into their homes too...

Then how about you leave mumsnet ang go found imalrightjacknet?

Lack of criminal culpability, exploitation, vulnerability to being forced into crime, rehabilitation potential, and on our part common sense and a semblance of humanity.

How how did he look @Ontobetterthings ? You mentioned he had no shoes, but did he look dirty or unfed?

I would speak to your son, but contact the police regardless.

Everyone concerned about the child's welfare has said to call the police and let them sort it out so I don't know what your problem is.

Even if a child looks in distress and knocks on your door or is hovering near your home, never let them into your home - they will be a part of a criminal gang. Just ring the police and take photos. No one else's child is worth risking your own and your family's safety.

My problem is with wasting your time worrying about the welfare of someone who would steal your Nan's ashes if it suited them.

Yes, definitely call the police. Whatever the motivation, if he (even as a 12 year old) does this at the 'wrong' address, he may find himself in a lot of trouble.

I'd imagine some people would give out some rough justice on the boy if they felt their home was being compromised in this way.

The difference is whether they are being forced into it by a criminal gang of adults, obviously.

Can you seriously not see the difference between a twelve year old taking your wallet on their own initiative (thief) and a twelve year old who doesn’t speak English being sent in to do this, under duress, by an adult who they also depend on for their food and lodging? They don’t exactly have much choice in the second scenario do they?

I haven't gone all moral obligation over anyone.

But the term boat people was used by numerous people and is vile and degrading. Whether used to say they needed protection or not it shouldn't be acceptable and just repeats the vile rhetoric used by people to other vulnerable people.

The same with illegal immigrants being used to describe asylum seekers (not on this thread iirc)

I was just generally commenting about how it's become acceptable (how and why?) to use such incorrect language.

I'll call out any type of language that's unacceptable anywhere as do many on MN.

Your outrage says more about how you feel about the fact you've obviously used the description and realise how vile it is than me asking why it's become acceptable.

And yes, if you did use it you should feel utterly outraged at yourself

So if your child ends up being vulnerable and exposed, do you want everyone else to put their family first or would you appreciate if someone actually had the decency to ensure your child's safety? Long time since I've been this disgusted by some people on here.

I'd get one of those chains for your door just in case he comes back.

Some of the responses here are absurd!
Report it to the police, he may have knocked on other doors too. I'd not automatically assume he was going to rob you, just a child needing the toilet... but I'm probably too trusting.

So just call the police.

25 year olds are forced into crime by adults. 50 year olds. It's shit but you don't just empty out your bag and say help yourself do you.

She didn't let him in, he barged his way in.

It's in the thread title.