What would you do? Vandalism.?

Question

I own an ice cream store and last week, I noticed some significant scratches on the glass of my display - like someone had keyed it. My employees saw it also.
I have a good surveillance system at my store so I started reviewing my hard drive. To my dismay, I found the people who did the damage. They are both 5 years old and they were with an adult, who happens to be one of my employees - and who was not watching what they were doing. Also. . .I work a full time job where I work with one of the young people who scratched my display.

I called a glass company to see what could be done and due to the size and depth of the scratches, my only option is to replace the glass at a cost of $1,500.

My dilemma is this: this is a smallish town, I have a casual acquaintance with the parents of one of the vandals and the adult that was with them is one of my employees. How should I reconcile this situation in a kind way without letting them have it? I want to be firm, but fair.

Answer 1

Sir, you have received some very good advice from those in front of me. The main point is to act with grace and courtesy. You might NOT get it in return but if you act in this manner word will get out. Personally I would seek legal advice on how to handle this and I would have witness(s) there when you review the footage with the children's parents. I personally would not ask for monetary compensation and file on insurance. If they offer then accept but I would approach this is a lesson in citizenship, parenting, and watching the little barbarians closer. Everyone forgets human children have no better natures. Acceptable social behavior is a learned skill.

Answer 2

You need to say something so that this does not happen again, but you must not let it sour your relationship with your colleagues and their families.

I would say, get the glass replaced. Then, at a time when you are feeling calm and positive, not angry or aggrieved, ask the adult in question if you can have a word. Explain that you were concerned how the damage to the glass occurred and that you checked the CCTV. Say that you know he will be as shocked as you were to see that it was the children. Say that you felt he had a right to know so that it won't happen again. Give them some time and space to express shock, or regret or to apologise - but don't get angry if they don't.

It's fair to say that you are unhappy that this happened and that the expense is a nuisance for the business; but don't get angry or blame him. Let him say he was stupid, careless, whatever; if he does not see this for himself, then you telling him that will just make him angry. Some people care more about their kids and their own pride than they do about things and money.

Plan what you want to say, and stay calm. Rehearse some lines like "I know that you won't be any happier about this than I was..." or "I'm a bit embarrassed about this, but I thought you should know" or "This is what happened, what do you think we should do about it".

Don't expect anything specific; especially don't expect or ask for money towards the costs. Hopefully your colleague will be genuinely sorry and may even offer to help pay, but that has to be their decision.

It may be worth getting your displays insured against future damage as well.

Answer 3

Your employee should pay 1/3 and each child's parents should pay 1/3 (it was my understanding that the children are not related, if that is not the case the parents should still pay 2/3). Since this is a small town you can probably find out who the other child's parents are. You should sit down with all three, review the tape, and tell them that's how it's going to be. Let them pay in increments, $500 is a lot of cash to a lot of people, but get all the money from them.

Answer 4

My suggestion would be to review the tape with the parent of the child. Once the tape is finished, you could start off by saying, "I know that it isn't technically your fault, as you were distracted," but... and here is where you can go one of two courses. 1- You ask the parent to pay the cost of the window, and let's face it, depending on how mature she is, this could easily become town gossip. Or you could do 2, which is to accept her apology and hive her a swift but small lecture on watching her kids more closely, and have your insurance cover the cost of the damaged window. I strongly advise you to, no matter your course of action, act gracefully and good humoredly.

Answer 5

I would approach the parents of the child, and tell them that you have some footage of their child scratching your glass, if they would like to see it. Do not be aggressive or vindictive.

The parents have a responsibility to discipline their children, and if you do anything that attacks their children in some way, they will respond with aggression. But they do need to know that their children did something naughty, because they need to discipline their children.

Five year olds cannot usually be charged with anything (in Australia the minimum age to be charged is 10) so you would have to approach the parents for restitution. Be considerate of their response, though. they will have their children's protection in mind, and may choose to disbelieve you unless you show them the footage.

If you cannot resolve things quietly, you should seek legal advice in your area. They may have more avenues to resolve this problem.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Number one, they are full of crap if they are saying your only option is to replace the glass. What would you do if a rock dinged your windshield - replace it? You can pay companies to glue it to prevent spider webbing.

Number two - if they are your employee, then they are somewhat more responsible than careless customers - since they are enjoying a job and an income from the business. I would not force them to pay for a replacement. I would show then the video, and have them HELP pay for REPAIR of the window.

Answer 7

I think you should let the employee know that you will be taking the $1500 out of his/her paycheck (at reasonable increments, of course, so as not to ruin him/her financially). They were responsible for the children, so they are responsible for the damage. I would talk to the parents, also, to let them know what happened - not in an accusatory way, just informative. Maybe they'll offer to help pay for the damage. (that's a huge maybe)

Answer 8

I say neither paintings nor vandalism. Graffiti is the expression of choose, and the common of that expression varies drastically. i don't have faith in inner maximum sources, so i could truly desire to work out graffiti everywhere - I advise, think of a city wherein choose replaced into written everywhere!

Answer 9

bummer