Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

WWYD? Would you call the police? A child has just attempted to steal an i-pod from my house

17 replies

HerBeatitude · 19/09/2010 14:47

She's from my DS's primary school and has been round a couple of times. Today she came round with her cousin, there were also three other play dates here - I do have a bit of an open house policy for the local feral kids. Grin

She asked about where my ipod was and I told her it was in my bedroom. Half an hour later, she had been sneaking around the place so I had an uneasy feeling and went to check that the Ipod was still in its case - it was. Then the other two kids arrived, there was a bit of coming and going and she and her cousin left. You know when you get that gut feeling? I got it, and sure enough, the ipod wasn't there anymore.

I screamed and shouted about it, all the kids ran down the road after her, I told them to tell her I'd call the police if the ipod didn't turn up and then five minutes later after I'd got my shoes on, I went down the road and heard the ipod playing - luckily it had been turned on and left in the front garden of another house. Whoever had taken it had obviously got frightened and decided to abandon it.

So. I've got my ipod back. The question is, should I call the police? Is it worth following up? Is this enough of a fright for her not to try this again, will I start her on a life of crime if I don't? I'm also aware that it may not have been her - there were after all, other children in the house and it might have been any one of them (except that I don't think it was). I kind of think that if it were any of the other kids, they would also have a bit of a wake up call if I call the police, although I also know that as soon as I report it, I have no control over what the police will do - do I really want an eleven year old to get a criminal record because they stupidly acted on impulse and then got scared? Am having a dilemma about this, WWYD?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
DuncanDisorderly · 19/09/2010 14:49

I wouldn't report it, but I would stop random children from dropping in and out of my house.

Tortington · 19/09/2010 14:49

well if you didn't see her do it the police cant do anything.

if her mother is reasonable maybe have a word but if you are going to get ' fuck off accusing my dawter you slag' then i would just leave it

Earlybird · 19/09/2010 14:50

How old is the girl?

Don't call the police - call her parents.

And don't allow her in your home again.

HerBeatitude · 19/09/2010 14:52

Well I did point out to everyone that the police could take fingerprints from teh ipod and the ipod case. In the hope that whoever took it, would own up and apologise.

Two of the other children went to her house and accused her (against my advice!) The adult's response in the house was "yeah, yeah", according to them.

OP posts:
AuraofDora · 19/09/2010 14:52

why did you tell her where your ipod was - if the kids are round to play with kids then they stick to the kids toys and stuff, no?

agree with DuncanDis, it's maybe a good time to call time on the kids dropping in.

pinkbasket · 19/09/2010 14:53

I wouldn't do anything as you can't prove who took it but I wouldn't allow them in my house again.

nameymcnamechange · 19/09/2010 14:55

You can get the police to come and give a fairly gentle child-friendly chat to the perpetrators of this sort of thing. Nothing too scary.

HerBeatitude · 19/09/2010 14:57

I've just decided to be a bit more careful about the kids and only let them in the garden.

I thought that if I said I would call the police, one of them might be alarmed enough to own up if it were them.

OP posts:
oldienotamoldie · 19/09/2010 15:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FallingWithStyle · 19/09/2010 15:30

I would absolutely call the police - whether you can "prove" she took it is neither here nor there, someone took it (someone you kindly invited into your home)and the police will either
a- be able to get to the bottom of it, and deal with the thief appropriately (more of a warning I would have thought, likely to nip the behaviour in the bud) or
b- they wont be able to prove who it was but she will still get a talking to.

Not doing her (or anyone else) anty favours by letting it pass.

StewieGriffinsMom · 19/09/2010 15:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jennyee · 19/09/2010 15:59

I agree with nameymcnamechange, I think you should call the police, but instead of reporting the girl just ask if someone could come and have a chat with all the kids who were at your house today. You can't prove she did it but at least she would get a bit of a warning.

mumeeee · 19/09/2010 16:38

I wouldn't call the police. But I wouldn't have told her where your ipod was and I would also be more strict about who comes into your house to play.

TheCrackFox · 19/09/2010 16:46

What SGM said.

Firawla · 19/09/2010 16:56

I would call them, they would go and talk to all the dc who came and it may be a bit of a wake up call to them? if you don't call they think they have got away with it. 11 is more than old enough to know better. If it was my ipod i would be calling

Earlybird · 19/09/2010 19:39

Also, think you need to tell your dc, where they/their friends are 'allowed' to roam in the house. There is no reason for a child to be in your bedroom during a playdate. If need be, enforce by closing or even locking your bedroom shut.

But, in general think you need to allow fewer children in the house and not allow the girl in question to come back.

Unless.......is there any chance your ds could have got your ipod in order to appear 'cool' to this girl, or could she somehow have coerced him into it?

HerBeatitude · 19/09/2010 21:17

OK I spoke to a friend of mine who is a police officer and she said on balance, don't bother reporting, police are too busy to deal with this.

My new rule is that all kids are only allowed in the garden from now on and the child in question isn't allowed in at all.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page