What would you do if you suspect a kid in your neighbor is doing damage to your property?

Question

Last night someone threw something about the size of a bowling ball at my husband's windshield. We called the police, a report was made and our insurance company is going to send someone out to replace the windshield. I had to drive my husband in to work today and I asked my daughter if the kid across the street bowls.(He's in middle school) She didn't know, but said that his elderly neighbor has bowling balls in her back yard. This of course raised a flag with me because we had a previous incident where rocks were thrown at our house and they came from the same kid's yard. I suspect things are happening because of my son being openly gay and he also has mental health problems, though he did move out about a month ago. I contacted the head of our board and am waiting for a reply from him, but I was just wondering what you would do in a situation like this. Would you casually approach the parents? I don't want to cause any problems, but I do want this to stop.

I had no idea what subject to put this under, so Yahoo chose for me.

Oh, I did mention to my husband this morning that we should install something like nanny cams.

Hi Wise Guy,

The object was thrown directly in the middle of the windshield. The size is exactly the size of a bowling ball. It wasn't able to break through completely, but there is glass everywhere inside the truck. The truck was only about four feet in front of the garage door, so the person wasn't able to do a real strong throw, though it was strong enough to do the damage that it did. I'm thinking the person dropped it direcly on the windshield and held onto it because the hood has no damage, other than glass on it.

Yes Wise Guy, as far as I know, we're the only ones affected. It's sort of messed up though. We have a sherriff's deputy that lives at the end of our road, but he works nights. You'd think that by knowing he lives in your neighborhood would make you not want to do stupid stuff like this. Truck's going in the garage tonight and going to stay there.

Answer 1

Cameras.
I would also visit the family you suspect and ask if perhaps they might have any idea who might be doing this damage to your property.
Let them know that a police report has been filed and you intend to install cameras so that you might catch this vandal so they can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Ask them to keep an eye out on your place and to let you know if they see anything suspicious.
Ask your other neighbors to do the same - so that it doesn't seem as though you are pointing fingers.

Good luck-

Answer 2

I would set up a video camera in the front and back of my house and then if anything happens you will have proof of who did it.

Also, get motion-sensitive floodlights that come on if someone enters your yard. That should scare the jerk who is damaging your property off!

Good luck!

Answer 3

You need to catch him in the act and then confront his parents. If you accuse him without any proof they will only get defensive. I would also call the authorities when you catch him. Obviously his parents can't control him so the police need to get involved.

Answer 4

Put up a couple of cameras, video is the best thing a prosecutor has to offer to a jury and they don't lie.

Answer 5

Monitor your property with Cameras. A closed circuit camera system is relatively cheap these days.

Answer 6

Install a hidden camera, this way you have more then enough evidence.

Answer 7

You really need to get some hard evidence as to who was behind it, hearsay and speculation really isn't good enough.