I live in the city, and my nieghborhood has been plagued with a rash of vandalism over the past few months. Windows have been broken, yards have been trashed. The events have been witnessed and the police have been called on several occasions, only to tell us that they can do nothing unless they catch them in the act. I made a visit to the police dept. and carried some of the items, beer bottles, cans, and an assortment of other junk that has been thrown into my backyard. Once again I was told that they could do nothing. I asked if a video of the acts would suffice as evidence and was told it would. I installed a motion sensor with an indoor alarm out back and am waiting for the vandals to return. My question is, does anyone have any other suggestions on handling this situation.

-- Bettie Ferguson (jobett@dixie-net.com), December 26, 2000

Answers

......Walk softly....carry BIG stick!

-- Jaco Scholtz (jaco@loghomes.co.za), December 26, 2000.

Old story: This gentleman would sit on his front porch polishing a shotgun most evenings. A close friend ask him why he did that. "Well," he said, "I just want the kids in this neighborhood to know Old Man Gilicote has a gun he likes."

You might have to alternate between the front and back porch or yard. Leave a message you are not defenseless.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), December 26, 2000.

MOVE !

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), December 26, 2000.

I agree with Carol.Start looking for a place in the country. Seriously,It's not likely to get better.If you are sucessful with the video evidence then there will be more vandalism to get even.

-- JT in Florida (gone2seed@hotmail.com), December 26, 2000.

Bettie, I don't think sitting on the front porch is the answer, as a matter of fact it could be taken as a challenge, which could then end in some really serious problems.

If the children are local, then talking to their parents might help, although i wouldn't think so.

I don't see how the police, if you make a formal written statement and are willing to testifiy would decline to take action. I would give the police another chance to do something about it and then if it wasn'y corrected I would make an appointment with the county prosecutor and tell him the problem.

-- hillbilly (internethillbilly@hotmail.com), December 26, 2000.

Hi Bettie:

I don't want to sound smug or judgemental, but why in the world do you voluntarily live in such a place?

-- Jim (catchthesun@yahoo.com), December 26, 2000.

I'm sure the safest solution is to move, and do so quickly.

However, I'm reminded that we sometimes do have to take a stand. Did the English or French go elsewhere when the neighborhood started going to pieces 50 years ago, or did they dig in for the long haul?

While many of you don't watch television, the aforementioned situation reminds me of the new television show, "The District."

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), December 26, 2000.

Jim-these "places" are all over the place,now.When I grew up,you could have left the door unlocked and gone away for a month and no one would have bothered a thing.Not so today

I live in an area every bit as rural as where I grew up, and theft & vandalism is all too common.

Use to be when you lived back in ,no one bothered you,it was just too far to walk.Now with easy to escape on ATV's everywhere,the places back in are the ones target most bc no one else is there to see anything.Clean escape

Form a neighborhood watch.Motion activated cameras are available.Dye cannisters are available also to mark the perpetrator.

We've been thru this.You may not know that camera detection devices are available to vandals to avoid being taped.We found this out,our local sneak thief has one.Also device for listening in to your phone to find out when you'll be gone.Lovely neighbor.

Does this make sense? State police take the time to stake out suspected pot planting area of maybe a dozen plants and wait for grower to show up, but don't have the personnel to stake out known sneak thief.Priorities.

Keep being the squeaky wheel-they'll get tired of seeing you and that may encourage them to a more proactive approach.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), December 26, 2000.

Know your neighbors!bring neighborhood watch into your neighborhood. You cant fight this battle alone but with good neighbors involved you can all take back your neighborhood.United you stand, divided you fall.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), December 26, 2000.

How do you counter a "youth gang"? With an "adult gang". We had some freinds in a metro area that took back their neighborhood by keeping lights on porches on and since everyone worked different shifts, they always kept an adult group with cell phones and video gear in site.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), December 26, 2000.

Sure wish Rascal would learn to spell!

-- Ardie from Wi (a6203@hotmail.com), February 23, 2001.

Bettie, I do suggest that you work hard to catch these perps. I hope you have proof that these are in fact "youth gangs". Here in my area, virtually anything that happens like this (mail theft and mailbox bashing come to mind) gets blamed on "kids". I think kids are getting a bum rap.

JOJ

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@ecoweb.net), February 23, 2001.

Thankyou for removing Rascals filth! I've heard all those words before,but that doesn't mean I want to to again!!

-- Ardie (a6203@hotmail.com), February 24, 2001.

Last week two of the gang were almost hit by a car. I told my husband maybe the driver would have better luck next time.

-- Bettie Ferguson (jobett@dixie-net.com), February 26, 2001.

I agree with the move solution. I'm often reminded to lock my truck and doors to the house. Someday you'll learn soon follows. I'll learn ok, to pack the moving van and head away from "civilization". Seems to have worked so far. Remain flexible.

-- jz (oz49us@yahoo.com), February 27, 2001.