On Saturday afternoon I decided it was time to wash both our cars. They are parked on the road alongside my house with my wife's car in front of mine. I washed and then dried my car with a chamois. I then washed my wife's car. When I came out of my side gate with the bucket with a chamois in it I saw three 14 year olds (2 boys and a girl) walking in the road (its the entrance to a large cul de sac), the girl and one boy stopped and kissed whilst the the other boy walked close to my car's drivers side. I heard a feint noise that I could not register as to its origin, but sounded like a scratching noise.
I started drying my wife's car and when I dried the drivers side I notice a new scratch across 3 panels. I felt sure it was not there when I washed it a few minutes earlier. I then looked at my car and found a scratch at the same height across 3 panels. It looks like a craft knife has been used as the cut is very crisp.
This group of 3 youngsters all live within several hundred yards, as I have seen them arround many times before. I do not know their names or where they live, but with a bit of checking I could easily find out. The area I live in has over 750 homes built in the 1970's in a rural setting bounded on all sides by sites of Special Scientific Interest.
I went in the house and told my wife the bad news about the cars. To put it mildly I was furious. My wife then phoned the local community officer (LCO) and left a message on the answering machine, and I then reported the damaged to the local police and received a crime number. We have had dealings with the LCO before over vandalism and theft and know there is a thick file against a number of local youngsters, but they are missing the final bit of proof - hopefully I can now provide it.
My wife's car has been damaged on the drivers side in the recent past with other deliberate scratches and a broken door mirror. I shall be filling the scratch on my car with a fine brush to stop any rust starting. When my wife obtains some retouch paint I will fill her scratches as well. In neither case do I think it is worth claiming on insurance due to the excess and as both cars are R-reg.
I know what I would like to do to these toe rags, but I doubt if I will have any direct contact. I hope they suffer a stiff punishment under the law and they are forced to pay for respraying both driver's sides of our cars (I can but hope).
What do you think should be either suitable punishment or what you would like to do to them?
--
Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
|
What do you think should be either suitable punishment or what you would like to do to them?
Cut their hands off. Deadly serious.
|
|
What's wrong with people ? (the youths I mean).
|
What's wrong with people ? (the youths I mean).
They aren't taught to read or count at school, languages are no longer taught, maths and science teaching along with history are in most secondary schools a very, very bad joke thanks in large part to the 'National Curriculum', they aren't even made to go to school and when they are there no one dares to punish them for wrongdoing or coerce them into doing what they should do. At home they watch vulgar rubbish on television and listen to their parents talking vulgar rubbish about it. There's little or nothing of the slightest value in their heads and they have nothing to do (competitive sport too being banned in schools for a variety of piffling reasons), but they crave 'action' as we all did and 'respect' which is currently fashionable if meaningless in this context.
If you had been rendered half-witted by these means you too might not see what was wrong with vandalising the property of a total stranger. One would love to see them being rounded up and hustled about on the double wearing orange jump suits being made to do something gruelling but useful. But one isn't going to. Nor is it a good idea to maim the culprits (it's illegal), especially as they get quite indignant when someone tries to do that and they just might lynch you to death, knowing no better.
|
|
|
|
What do you think should be either suitable punishment or what you would like to do to them?
Mel Smith and Pamela Stephenson said it best 25 years ago. Cut. Their. Goolies. Off. Off!
|
You're pretty much stuffed, really, but I'd do what you've done, telling the CPO - at least they'll add it to their list of incedents.
THEN... assuming you'd not get a thump, I'd visit the youngsters home, when the parents are BOTH there, with or without the accused.
Don't have a row/all guns blazing, instead, surprise them, by explaining what's happened & that you realize, you are NOT certain, but it does appear to have been their child, that caused this damage.
Point out you've informed the Police & that you'd appreciate the opportunity for them to reimburse the cost of rectifiying the damage.
They'll either give you a mouthfull, or MIGHT even not be aware of the behavior, of their offspring & making sure he doesn't offend in future - you never know!!
At least you'd have had your say & given them chance to at least recompense, you.
VB
PS As you all think 'what planet is Vansboy on', I'm just annoyed that so many times we ignore/accept this type of thing, without simple comment.
|
|
Give them counselling - at taxpayers' expense of course.
|
Entirely agree with Vansboy.
Remember - be nice, very nice. Don't go round if you're still angry about it: wait until you're nice and calm. Definitely go for the "more in sorrow than in anger" tone. Don't suggest in any way the parents are to blame, or demand that they pay. It's possible you could make them pay, but it would be VERY hard.
You've done all the right things so far, and now you have to be a bit subtle with the next step. Most parents find it hard to hear their child criticised, or that they've done something wrong. The proverb about "catching more flies with honey than with vinegar" springs to mind.
|
keep away artful dodger {P},you have done the right thing by employing all lawful options open to you.Keep away from the halfwits houses they have all the time in the world if you are not well received by their families you have a business and family to maintain.
--
\"a little man in a big world/\"
|
ad,
I agree with oldman. In most cases low life comes from low life. The parents are probably as bad, if not worse than the kids - and they could well be a lot bigger and could be more violent - where do you think the kids got their lack of respect for other people's property from? I realise that you are rightly very upset about it but don't put yourself in a difficult position. On the other hand, if you find one of these youths by himself in a dark place with no witnesses - cut his goolies off (slowly and with a very blunt and rusty knife)
--
Phil
|
|
|
|
Update
This morning I was finally called back by the police and a verbal statement was given. This is now being passed to the local police so I can give a formal statement. This will happen within the next 48 hours. This morning I expect I will be speaking to the local community officer. The net result should be very effective against these yobs.
Yesterday afternoon I carefully touched in the scratch on my car with the aid of a large magnifying glass. It certainly looks better this morning as no white colour is showing though the dark blue metallic, more like a branch has caught the paint rather than a knife.
My initial anger has subdued, but I still want the culprit brought to justice. One thing I have learnt over time is that patience can make you decide the best course of action. In the heat of the moment you can do silly things that put you in a bad light when looked at in retrospect. I still believe that "For evil to succeed, all it takes is good men to do nothing".
At present I have no intention to directly approach the culprit or his parents. I have found that the bad behaviour found in children can frequently be found in the parents as well. Public naming and shaming is far more effective, but must be used very cautiously and only when all other options have failed.
Returning to my question about suitable punishments, I have not heard of any creative solutions. Imagine you are a magistrate and have to decide on a creative and realistic punishment. Might I suggest that they are made to work every Saturday for 12 months in a car paint business to learn how to correct their damage.
Will update you as the case evolves.
--
Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
|
I would have absolutely no hesitation whatsoever in decorating the house and car of their parents with a large tin of glossy red paint. They may be more inclined to control their filthy off-spring if every act of mindless vandalism committed by their kids was repaid to them ten-fold.
And as soon as they had cleaned it all up, I?d do it again.
|
|
|
Further update.
The Local Community Officer came and saw me at work today and had a long chat. She did not know who the 3 youngsters are, but between the new local beat police office, herself and myself we shall all try to identify either their names and/or where they live. She thought there was sufficient evidence for the case to proceed once the culprit has been identified. I guess it will cost about £500 per car to correct the scratches and I will press for this work to be paid for.
So tomorrow I shall be going out for a walk with my wife to see if we can spot them, and then possibly follow them to one of their homes. In my pocket will also be a digital camera so I might even just be able to record their identies. If we do not suceed at first, we shall continue trying. The new local police officer will also make a few house to house enquiries to see if these youngsters can be identified.
Still trusting the law will be brought to into action and others do not have to suffer any damage.
--
Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
|
"walk with my wife to see if we can spot them, and then possibly follow them to one of their homes. In my pocket will also be a digital camera so I might even just be able to record their identities."
Be careful - there are some nasty people out there!
--
Phil
|
|
I was going to caution you much the same way. This kid is carrying a knife. If you want to di it don't use a camera - that might just provoke a reaction not only from junior but from a disgruntled parent whose reaction might be violent when his/her little darling is photographed ifykwim.
|
Be really careful, Roger. One such vigilante action - I tried to stay with a kid until the police got there, after he had been acting v. suspiciously in my neighbour´s garden - saw me in hospital with two stab wounds in my back, punctured lung etc etc. Very scary for all concerned.
Assume they are carrying knives - they were when they did your car. It really is not worth risking a stab wound. Keep your distance.
Regards,
barchettaman
ps they never caught the toerags who stabbed me.
|
|
You begin to understand, sort of, why Americans so often open fire with an Uzi when the Tupperware lady rings the doorbell.
|
and in todays culture vulture they could accuse you of taking pictures of small children,take pictures but only with the camera in your bow tie,no one will know then............Good luck by the way but as said DO be careful.
--
\"a little man in a big world/\"
|
|
|
|
All of your comments about being threatened have been noted. In the past when I was running a neighbourhood watch, I was threatened with the following items on separate occassions - knives twice, a jemmy and a screwdriver. But I did provide the information to the police to arrest and convict 4 people for their crimes. Several others did escape justice, but not for the lack of trying.
I did not see the youngsters yesterday, but I shall keep my eyes peeled. Even if it takes 6 months or longer to identify them, I shall continue. The longer it takes, the more they will think they got away with it, so the shock will be even greater than a quick arrest. As the crime has already been logged with the police, additional information can be provided at any time to aid a prosecution.
Why am I prepared to not write it off to experience? For evil to succeed, all it takes is good men to do nothing. I feel sure it was only because of the exact time I came out of my gate that a third car was not damaged. If these youngsters are prepared to do this in broad daylight, then what will they do next? Could it be slashed tyres or broken lights? Maybe a firework through a letter box? Who knows, but they must realise the consequences of their actions and accept the punishment from the law.
--
Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
|
i agree with you artful dodger {P} totally but it can also take over your life so be careful.
--
\"a little man in a big world/\"
|
but it can also take over your life so be careful.
Part of my problem is my strong sense of right and wrong. It is the way I was brought up. It certainly is not going to be my mission in life to catch them - but I certainly will. Patience is a virtue, so how long it takes does not matter. If I had not seen who had damaged the cars, then there would have been nothing I could have done about it other than moan.
--
Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
|
"For evil to succeed, all it takes is good men to do nothing"
Good sentiment - but still be careful!
--
Phil
|
|
|
Update.
The police have been round to see me twice at the end of last week, so they are taking the matter very seriously. They have also been making some house to house enquiries.
Whilst I have been at work today there has been a major development. A close neighbour had the number plate of his BMW ripped off whilst it was parked on his drive. Unfortunately the incident was seen by the owner who went out and collared one of the trio. He is a very fit and tough young man, and not afraid of having a go. He managed with the help of another burly neighbour to detain all 3 of them. The police were called and arrested the youngster who damaged my cars. The tall youth and the girl were questioned and allowed to go on their way.
It was also interesting to be told that a Mercedes emblem was found in the hedge of the house next door. It seems this toe rag has been very active locally, hence the police interest. My wife heard the language he used and it was all F'ing and blinding, so I am glad I did not have to get directly involved.
I was prepared to be very patient about identifying this youth, but events have now meant that justice can now be done. Especially as there is now another witness who has detained this yob.
Just cannot wait to get home to hear the full story and see exactly what action the police are going to take.
--
Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
