... to be hacked off with the parents of the little sods who are committing all the burglaries round where I live?

[spicemonster]

I got burgled last year by three kids who were about 13. My neighbour saw them running down the road with my bag. They nicked two laptops, my camcorder and my camera. And hence all the footage and photos of my 3 month old baby. Never caught.

Earlier tonight (around 5pm), I was startled by a movement and saw a kid peering through my kitchen window. I ran out after him and there were 3 of them, tearing up the road. According to the police, they are probably checking out if I've replaced the stuff from last year. No idea if it's the same three boys but they are about the right age, fit the description and all the burglaries round here have the same MO. So probably either same boys or some who know the ones from last summer.

AIBU to think that their parents are useless? How could you not know if your kid was nicking so much stuff? Surely you'd see some of it or at least the cash they'd made from selling it? Or do I have a completely unrealistic view of what you can expect to know about a teenage boy? I'm really cross

[puffling]

It's most likely the parents condone what their kids do.

[nametaken]

The parents of these boys are filth. If they were decent then their kids wouldn't be doing this stuff. It's pointless expecting the parents to do something about it - they are incapable and have lost control.

[SenoraPostrophe]

do you have teenagers?

I agree that these parants are probably a bit slack, but it is possible for a nice 13 yr old to fall in with a bad crowd. it's not unreasonable for them to be out at 5 after all.

I'd be more pissed off with the police though - if there are that many burglaries, can't they set some cameras out or something?

[spicemonster]

No, I've got a 1YO. The police are trying but they can't catch them. They have a fair idea of who they are though I think. There's a meeting this week to talk about it.

[southeastastra]

no yanbu. i watched a programme about firefighters that were called out on hoax calls by kids who then set about stealing all the equipment off the truck. one even boasted to the fireman that he had more equipment off the fire engines in his house that the fire station.