Grow Your Own Magazine

Waffler · #1 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 05:57 PM

Some advice please!

A couple of local lads (12/13/14?) have decided our house and garden is obviously more interesting than their own. A few months back, every now and then they'd ring the doorbell and run, and I saw them do it to the neighbours opposite: annoying, but harmless, and as my Dad said, he used to do it when he was kid!

This week though, one evening they kept doing it over and over again. Our house is quite long and we have a doorbell at one end (which they keep ringing) and a proper bell at the other end. So hubby went out of the kitchen end where the proper bell is and shouted at them and then of course they started ringing the bell bell aswell. We've ignored it as best we can, but to say it's annoying is an understatement, and my poor cats jump out of their skins everytime the bell goes!
OH went out yesterday morning and told me last night, that although they hadn't rung the bell the night before, they'd obviously been through to our courtyard area because the gate was open. I've just been out to feed the birds and had a look around, and there are broken canes all over the place (and orange peel!!) and my bird feeders were in pieces all over the garden (luckily fixable). I think they had been using the canes to knock them down as they're out of their reach.

So, is there anything that can be done about these little blighters, or do we just have to ride the storm?
I know it's only harmless stuff, but that's now; what happens if they don't grow out of it and they go on to bigger and 'better' things?

Waffler · #2 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 06:01 PM

By the way, we will take the batteries out if it continues, but didn't really want to resort to that in case 'real' people want to contact us.

shirlthegirl43 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 06:05 PM

What a pain and nuisance. Could you disconnect the bell at the times they usually pester you? I would guess that those times are rather different to when you would have important callers. You could ask people to phone and tell you they are about to arrive for a while. Can you lock the gate to the courtyard?

I understand your dad's view on the knock and run (knock-knock ginger we used to call it). I had words with our sons a few years back and said while I couldn't tell them off for it as I had played the same game, I would be happier if they only knocked each house once a day and avoided houses where they knew older people lived.

Any chance of trying to encourage them to help fill bird feeders etc? It is probably a long-shot but many kids that age just don't have anything that has grabbed their interest and need a gentle guiding hand rather than a clip round the ear and being ignored.

Sorry for sounding like my grandad!

smallblueplanet · #4 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 06:36 PM

Err well if it were me I'd be contacting the local police station and asking what steps I could take.

rustylady · #5 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 07:11 PM

I take it they've disappeared by the time you get to the door. If you see them coming or catch them then try asking (politely if you can) what they want and why they are doing this. I must admit we used to do it as kids, but only occasionally, and never used to pick on anyone we didn't know.
Ringing the bell and disappearing is annoying, but as your "visitors" now seem to have moved on to entering your property and destroying stuff I really think you must contact the police, at least to make them aware that there is a problem. Is there a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in your area? Do you know or recognise the culprits? Sorry for so many questions. I had a similar problem around 2 years ago. I live in a rented cottage on a street which is en-route from the local schools to the park and the landlord in his wisdom had decided that pea shingle would be an ideal solution for a maintenance free front garden. WRONG!!!!! The front wall was only two and a half feet high and the little darlings used to either reach over and grab the shingle to throw at each other (and passing cars) or just come into the garden and have their shingle fights there. Most of the time I wasn't actually a witness as I work full time. Then I got flu and had a week at home. I was feeling really low anyway, and as I live alone I began to feel really intimidated and quite frightened even though the culprits were only around 10 or 12 years old. I could see them through the window but by the time I got to the door they'd always disappeared. I contacted the local police and they were great. They kept a general eye on the whole area, especially at "prime time for trouble" and things are now much better.

Waffler · #6 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 07:13 PM

Thought that might be classed as 'over reacting' - especially since they're minors, but had certainly considered it.
We could lock the gate I guess, but there's a gap in the hedge (which needs addressing) where I think perhaps they came in, then left via the gate. They can also access the back garden (where the feeders are) round the side of the house if they feel so inclined.

smallblueplanet · #7 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waffler

Thought that might be classed as 'over reacting' - especially since they're minors, but had certainly considered it....

If you've a Community Police officer they might know who the kids are and have a word. They might tell you that it'll stop of its own accord if the 'kids' get bored, or they might tell you 'they're trouble' - in which case get your boundaries fixed and your gate locked.

Anyway only you can decide if its 'heavy-handed' but you're only asking the police for information - do you have neighbourhood watch & a community police officer?

Good luck.

ps where in Wiltshire are you?

bramble · #8 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 07:35 PM

If I were you I would get it stopped before it gets any worse or before these kids get older when they might cause you even more trouble
Get all your fences fixed and make it hard or even impossible for them to get on your property. They will move on to easier sites when they realise they can't get in any more.

Two_Sheds · #9 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 08:23 PM

Telling the police will sadly achieve nothing - they don't even come out for burglaries.
I would set some booby traps, but then I am a vindictive sort

A strategically placed bag of flour, or bucket of water, or a rake ???

smallblueplanet · #10 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Two_Sheds

Telling the police will sadly achieve nothing - they don't even come out for burglaries.
I would set some booby traps, but then I am a vindictive sort

A strategically placed bag of flour, or bucket of water, or a rake ???

Whilst that sounds amusing, it could end up back-firing badly.

I wasn't talking about 'reporting' it to the police, but asking for their advice, and if you have Community Police officers that's what they're there for.

Two_Sheds · #11 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 09:01 PM

SmallBluePlanet, i agree that is what the C3POs are for, but they are nothing more than figures of fun to troublemakers. I used to be plagued by horrible kids, banging on my doors and windows, sometimes with iron bars - the police knew who they were, but were powerless to do anything. The yobboes used to misbehave precisely so that the police would come and they would taunt them. Pointless.

A strategically, "accidentally" left bucket of water, however, will harm nobody, but may teach a little lesson.

shirlthegirl43 · #12 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Two_Sheds

A strategically, "accidentally" left bucket of water, however, will harm nobody, but may teach a little lesson.

So did the good old-fashioned hot backside. Pity corporal punishment is so frowned upon these days. After all, there is a big difference between punishment and beating.

smallblueplanet · #13 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Two_Sheds

....A strategically, "accidentally" left bucket of water, however, will harm nobody, but may teach a little lesson.

I wouldn't advise anyone to consider such things in the world we live in today. Afterall if you live in an area where that would work rather than encourage greater retaliation then 'a quiet word' would also work?

rustylady · #14 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 09:38 PM

Our local police are actually asking people to report such incidents. Not promising to attend, mind you. But reports do help them to build up a profile of local incidents and offenders and hopefully do something about it, e.g. increase patrols, identify suspects etc.

carlseawolf · #15 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 09:56 PM

how about a sprinkler system in the garden ?

JanieB · #16 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 10:13 PM

CCTV is very cheap nowadays. And although the police don't seem particularly interested in burglary. due to the paperwork and cost of investigation, petty stuff with an easy proof/clear up rate is right up their street.

Try <gardenlaw.co.uk>. There's unfortunately a few trolls on there at the moment, but in general you will get sound advice.

starwatcher · #17 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 10:21 PM

Bring Back Hanging ( For Everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Waffler · #18 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 10:35 PM

Thanks everyone for the advice. Along the route of strategically placed buckets of water, we had considered having one at our bedroom window to chuck out if they rang the bell (we're above the front door) but figured by the time we'd opened the window they'd have heard us and would be out of range. Various similar thoughts struck me, but I have to confess that in this day and age we're slightly concerned that something as harmless could be classed as assault.
We live in a village, where I don't think there's a neighbourhood watch scheme and I don't think there's a CPO either - but could be wrong. My guess would be that the police wouldn't routinely pass by our house at the problematic time as it's pretty rural.
We've decided we need to sort out our outdoor lighting and perhaps install a movement sensitive light.
Last year we had a police officer look at the place for guidance on security and the general concensus was that, unless you get a really sh*t hot system, the CCTV systems merely serve to show you that a person/persons were doing whatever they were doing, but don't actually show who they are.
SMP - in answer to your question, we're near Lyneham.

Touch wood, nothing so far tonight, but don't know if they're about outside!

pigletwillie · #19 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 11:30 PM

A friend of ours had trouble with "hedge jumpers". To prevent further outbreaks he borrowed some electic fencing, the wires of which were positioned in the appropriate places.

Hear him laugh at the pained squeals caused by the non lethal, non marking electrocution they recieved.

Just a thought.

JanieB · #20 (**permalink**) 12-01-2008, 11:59 PM

What a brill idea PigletW. Where in Wilts are you Waffler. I may be able to help!

carlseawolf · #21 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 10:32 AM

keep a couple of chickens inside the wire and then you can class the fence as fox prevention if they try to get you done by the police.

Two_Sheds · #22 (**permalink**) 13-01-2008, 11:18 AM

[quote=Waffler;161538]... strategically placed buckets of water, we had considered having one at our bedroom window to chuck out ...we're slightly concerned that something as harmless could be classed as assault.QUOTE]

That's precisely why I said "accidental" buckets of water, ie just lying around. I do not advocate chucking water at anyone - for one thing it would make them even crosser. However, if you are climbing over someone's fence and you step into a bucket of cold water, or onto a rake, or in a hole, that's your lookout, no?