You are the parent of a 16-year-old boy. You come home unexpectedly and find your door ajar. Inside, you discover your son’s friend looking through a kitchen drawer. The boy says he is looking for a paper and a pencil so he can leave your son a note. On the counter next to him is a lock-pick and some of your jewelry and he smells of marijuana. You tell the boy to leave immediately and he does. What would you do?
2007-11-13 04:23:45 · 18 answers · asked by MYthoughts 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
My response would depend on how well I knew the young man.
Clearly, he broke in and intended to steal from you. Since he's underage, this is both a police matter and one for the parents. I would call both.
If I knew him well, and did not feel in danger from him, I would have had him stay and waited together for his parents and the police and my husband and son. My goal for someone close to me would be to show the young man the consequences of his bad behavior and support his family in getting him some help.
If I didn't know him well, I would feel less obligated to call his parents, but would leave that to the police. My follow-up would be through police channels, and I would also have a frank talk with my son about friends and good choices.
I would also consider a need for better security, and talk with my son about who he has let in to the home without adult supervision. My suspicion would be that the young man who broke in had been to my home before.
Good luck to you!
2007-11-13 04:39:25 · answer #1 · answered by lsmerage 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, I wouldn't have made him leave. I would have acted as if that could be normal behavior, then excused myself to go to the bathroom, and immediately called the police!!
Second of all, I would have had him arrested AND prosecuted.
He is NOT a good kid who just made a mistake, he's a criminal in training and it sounds like he's ready to graduate!
At the very least, don't let your son hang around with him, and if he insists, then tell him that you will not help him if he gets into trouble while with that kid (whether you will or not isn't the point, he just needs to feel like that relationship is a dead end!).
I would never let him come to my house again and also try and talk to his parents about what happened. If they seem are uncaring as their kid, then you may want to consider a restraining or protective order to keep him away from your house and child.
If you have a neighborhood watch in your community, let them know what he looks like and what type car he drives. A neighbor who is close to you that also watches your house for you may be alerted as well.
You could also invite him over to your house and have the police waiting, so that they could do a criminal trespass on him. Then if he ever shows up at your house again, he would be immediately arrested.
2007-11-13 04:53:34 · answer #2 · answered by Goyo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would call the police and then his parents! Next time you may be home when he decides to stop in for a "visit"!
2007-11-13 04:30:09 · answer #3 · answered by I hang with the BIG DOGS 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Call his parents and tell them what you found. Don't let him get away with it because it's obviously the start of a not so great life for him! Get him help now.
2007-11-13 04:39:53 · answer #4 · answered by mamarivers 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call the police and file a report. He just broke into my house and tried to steal from me.
2007-11-13 09:57:01 · answer #5 · answered by ~Biz~ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call the police! It can only get worse...You're not doing him or your son any favors by letting him get away with it. He obviously needs help and sometimes the only place to get it is behind bars.
2007-11-13 04:27:47 · answer #6 · answered by Peaches 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would have detained him and confiscated the items, called first his parents, then the police, so all could be there at the same time.....with the goods in hand.
2007-11-13 04:32:56 · answer #7 · answered by Toffy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I would call the Police, or at least his parents!
2007-11-13 04:33:18 · answer #8 · answered by ke 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call the cops. Just because its your son's friend doesn't make it ok for him to break into your home and take your stuff.
Common sence.....come on!!
2007-11-13 04:46:19 · answer #9 · answered by buggerhead 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call the police.
2007-11-13 04:28:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋