Help needed with boy gang harrassment

[strawberry]

We seem to have become a target for a group of 5 teenage boys to harass us. Previously we have had a few paint bullets on the house and car which can be cleaned up but a nuisance all the same. On Monday, we heard some voices coming down the path and then banging on the door. DH opened up and was spat at. There was a lot of shouting and they ran off. Dh caught up with them and they didn't exactly apologise, just said it was only a laugh. Some remorse was shown. Since then more paint on the house. Then last night, I heard voices outside and more banging on the door and shouting. I was home alone and didn't open the door and eventually they went away. I was a bit emotional after and sat in the dark rest of evening.

Police say there is nothing they can do without a description. Any ideas? Thanks

Do you have a camcorder to surreptitiously record them?

This is dreadful....hope someone comes along with some advice

have you spoken to your neighbours? Are you the only family they are targetting? It might be worth asking around as someone may be in the same position or know who they are.

I wouldn't be surreptitious about it - I'd openly film them or take photos of them Especially if it's your dh that does it... Might make them back off even if ultimately the police don't do anything.

Get on to your local councillor. Tell him/her to make the police put more effort in!

We are going to try the camcorder but of course it is dark and not easy thru' the window so don't know if we'll get anything.

The chap opposite says a new family have moved to the area recently and are labelled as trouble makers. Sounds like the sort of parents who think they are 'standing up for their kids' even when they've done wrong IYSWIM.

Do you think it's best to ignore them or stand up to them (DH not me!)

I actually feel angry on your behalf strawberry. Of course the police can, and should, do something - at the very least they could turn up (resources permitting, obviously) which would act as a deterrent and since a crime (vandalism) has been committed, they should take a report of it. Also, since your husband has confronted them, would his description of them not do.
Personally, I think what they're saying is just pants - I would continue phoning them up and telling them you want something done. If that fails contact your councillor and your MP, after all this is just the type of 'low level' crime that the government is always telling us makes people's lives a misery.
Good luck.

strawberry, that's awful! How intimidating , I really feel for you. A family in our area was targeted similarly by a gang of lads. The police sent letters to all homes in the area saying they were aware this was happening and encouraging anyone who knew who was responsible to call them. It also asked for neighbours of this family to be supportive and help this family by calling them (the police) immediately if anything seemed amiss / gangs hanging around. It struck me as a productive and interesting letter. I liked the thought of the area as a whole being encouraged to be more neighbourly and to work more efficiently as a community.
I don't know how it came about that this letter was sent, it's just I haven't come across this procedure before and it seems to have been effective. Maybe it's something worth looking into?

Poor you Strawberry{{{hugs}}}. You can get cameras for the outside of houses quite cheaply know and most camcorders will record on night vision. You could try this and give the police a copy of the tapes - thats all they get from shops.

phone your council. This is anti-social behaviour. Our council has a special ASB unit that supports victims and witnesses of ASB. They can supply you with an alarm so you can alert the team 24 hours if you are suffering from ASB. Officers can come to your house to act as independent witnesses of ASB. They will also support you in court. The council will then have the evidence to impose strict behavour orders on the teenagers. If you don't want the youths to know it is you who is complaining, the ASB officers will keep your identity totally confidential. You tip them off, they witness it and take it further.

I don't know if your council has a similar ASB team, but do call them and ask what they do about anti-social behaviour. Are any neighbours affected? is there a local neighbourhood group? they might already be gathering evidence about this gang, ready for prosecution, so contact them if poss.

i would find out why you seem to be the target,then i would go out and talk to them say hay whats going on why are you doing this, sound firm,but dont let them intimidate you as it will give them more scope to do it,but keep a log of events with times and places,keep the police informed.

We had problems for a while and thankfully it stopped. I spoke to the police for advice about taking pictures and we were told absolutely not to. You are treading on dangerous ground if you do and may well end up getting into trouble yourself. Stupid I know and it really worried me for a while as the kids knew we'd taken pictures and their parents apparently could have reported us!

I would record everything that happens to the police and annoy them with it until hopefully something is done.

Strawberry I know how scary it is to have that happen when home alone. When I was 18 and babysitting one night the same thing happened, a group of boys banging on the door and windows.

I ran upstairs called 999 and sat in the room with the children (asleep thankfully) until the police turned up. All I said was there was a gang outside banging on the door, I was alone in the house with small children. I would urge you to do the same if it ever happens again. It does leave a horrible feeling inside.

These little thugs should know if they threaten you like that then the police will be called. And the police should be called, you are alone and don't know what they will do next. Their parents should be ashamed.