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.

The pearl clutching on this thread is a showcase of why criminal gangs use children for opportunist, distraction & deception thefts. Never let your guard down, no matter how vulnerable a stranger presents. You did the right thing OP & if a child ever makes it past you into your house, shut & lock the door before you make chase upstairs or you risk the ransacking of downstairs while you're kept occupied upstairs with the 'poor, helpless, child'.

This is my thought. Please call the police and give a description. And social services.

Kid could possibly be in danger/neglected/trying to escape something you just don't know.

I used to wonder why knock knock scammers did so well but now I guess I see

Nobody has suggested letting him in.

Or just call the police...

Nobody is saying give this kid your wallet. We are saying if he is being exploited the police and social services should be involved

OP are you reporting to the police?!!! Plenty of comments stressing to do this yet you haven't commented on any..

She grabbed him so would be a bad idea imo

Not 'or', 'and'.

The whole thread's a bit ridiculous anyway.

I cant think in what world anyone would need to ask the internet what they should do, if a 12 year old barefoot kid barged into their home and tried to run up the stairs.

Yet every week there seems to be a similar thread where someone doesn't know whether to call the police for something, that's a no brainer.

If you can't grab someone by the arm that has barged into your home how are you meant to stop them? Just ask nicely and hope?

I suggest you call 101 and report it to the police. The lad will be long gone by now but they should be made aware of what has happened.

Distraction, while another person robbed you or a neighbour….

They can still ensure safety from behind their locked doors and ringing 999. No point in letting someone into your house that may attack you or your children. Ones own children are always more precious than others.

Trigger warning ...

I remember a case where a foster family fostered a boy - that boy went onto rape thier 2 younger children - some things are not worth it for the "goody two shoes" status.

keep doors and windows locked
only answer with a chain on or use a doorbell cam so you can see who is there first or a spyhole
ring police
ask your son if he knows anyone like that but unlikely
chances are scam or burglary set up similar to the ive broken down on the road/im injured in the road as well probably from partner/i need money to get home or a lift

This. Sounds more scared than out to rob you. Definitely a police report, neighbours might have doorbell footage?

Firstly, get a chain on your front door, open it with the chain on!
Not just because of this. (I tend to only use the chain at night, but mean to use it in the day!)
Then I would be reporting and maybe asking for any ring doorbell footage.

Cross posted!

These responses are crazy and I’m torn between being amazed at how much attitudes have changed in recent years and wondering how much of the current crime epidemic where 12 year olds are hacking random people on the street to death with machetes can be blamed on this.

1. You have assumed this child is 12 when there’s every possibility he was a very young looking 16 year old. A teenage boy barging into a house would solicit very different responses than a 11/12 year old.
2. How did he know who lived there? You could have been an elderly woman who couldn’t have stopped him or maybe he thought you weren’t going to be in and tried his luck.
3. Regardless, you only have to be aware that kids of that age are involved in all sorts of serious crime.

Spare me the “12 year olds thieves aren’t criminals, they’re vulnerable children” bullshit. People don’t barge into other people’s homes for any reason at all. ND kids don’t either.

Phone the police, increase your security measure as soon as possible and don’t give these kids the benefit of the doubt. They are perfectly capable of robbing, mugging and putting you in hospital. They pose a real, genuine threat to you and your family, despite how “vulnerable” people on here will have you believe.

and make sure there weren’t any spare keys lying around in your hallway he might have reached out and grabbed without you realising.

I agree with @EI12 that this is exactly the scenario. They'll keep note of soft marks too.

(And the police won't touch it with a fire hose)