Busted some kids ringing our doorbell and running...

[wildernesslodgelover]

I understand that different regions of the country might have different opinions of this. I *WISH* I lived somewhere where this could be considered cute. I wish I lived somewhere that I felt a 12 year old is safe walking around the neighborhood at night. I don't. Home invasions are too common here, so doorbells rung at night freak me out. At the very least, I think it is bad news being delivered. Can you imagine if you rang the house of a police officer's wife? Or someone who has a loved one serving overseas? Not to mention, elderly people, women home alone, etc.?

It just doesn't seem the "fun" of it is worth the danger, inconvenience, etc.

Now crank calling....THAT is some fun stuff! LOL, good times, good times....

 

[MoniqueU]

Years ago when my sons were 1 and 2 I had just gotten them to bed and was watching live coverage of the TWA flight 800 disaster. After a long day with the boys I was glued to the TV as this plane crash had just happened and I wanted to watch it and chill out. I got ding dong ditched and I was fit to be tied. I chased the kids down the street, caught them and demanded to know who their parents were. THe kids fessed up and I walked them to their houses all the while chewing the kids out. When I got to their parents house I chewed them out too. There is no reason for kids to be ding dong ditching anyone and no less after dark at 9 oclock. Kids should be inside by that time of night and obviously these kids needed supervision no matter the time. I don't feel bad about chasing them down and giving the parents a piece of my mind. It is the parents job to keep their kids under control and they werent doing it. I have kids now that are 14,11 and 9 and they are not allowed out after dark just to hang out and they are not allowed to just hang out if the neighborhood. IF they they are doing something like riding their bikes or playing ball or chase fine. But they are not allowed to just loiter around. Too many parents fail to supervise their kids after a certain age and it is just ridiculous.

OP I think you did the right thing and I wouldnt feel bad about it at all. I think the dad glaring at the kid was fine too. That's the kid that will most likely learn it is not ok to disturb others, the other two might just get off light.

 

[jodifla]

AH, more DIS board wild over reacting!

Simple childhood prank, turned into federal case by adults.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I'm not sure I would have been as dramatic as taking the boys home. They are not vandals. Also, what does being licensed to carry have to do with what they did? You would shoot at someone who rang your doorbell and ran? In that case, you might consider giving up your guns as this does not seem like an offense that would require firing a weapon.

Of course we wouldn't shoot anyone who rang our bell, but the boys need to realize that there are people here who do carry handguns and being spooked can sometimes lead to things going wrong.

I think you read a little too much into what I posted.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

As the mother of a 12yo boy, I WOULD want to know but I would NOT want someone insinuating that kids could be shot for ringing doorbells. Sorry but I think that's very radical. IMHO, anyone who thinks they might shoot at someone ringing their doorbell should not be a gun owner. I'm FOR responsible gun ownership and use. This would fit neither. My sister belongs to the NRA and she agrees with me. She says children's pranks are not a reason to fire a weapon, nor threaten the possibility.

Hmmm. I read the OP several times, just to make sure. All I got out of it is the some boys were playing Ding Dong Ditch

I live in the same close knit neighborhood where DH and I grew up in, as do probably 75% of the families here do (our neighborhood is like Mayberry, stuck in the middle of a big city ). We used to play ding dong ditch, and actually, it would probably make me smile a bit to know that kids were playing the "old fashion" games that we used to play, instead of sitting inside playing video games.

I really don't think its that big of a deal to go chasing the kids down the block - who knows maybe one of them could have gotten hit by a car, and then what?

Oh, FTLOG. I had to go back and reread what I posted too!

I had to make sure that I didn't post that I told the boys that we could have shot them for ringing our doorbell, or that we chased them down the street. I did neither.

Would you want your kids going ding dong ditching (I didn't even know it had a name until last night) on doors where you knew there were homeowners with a loaded handgun? It doesn't matter if we're safe handgun owners, licensed, or whatever... the risk is there that there is going to be someone stupid with a gun.

Pasadena, anyone?

As a responsible parent, don't you think it should at least enter your minds that the possibility is there, that when you let your child run loose at night to do who knows what, that there is the chance that they could get hurt? The burden isn't on me to make sure that someone else's child is safe, it's theirs.

Never once did I insinuate that I would have shot any of them, but I did tell them that doing what they did was dangerous because they just don't know what they're going to be faced with doing something like that, and I used the fact that we're licensed to make a point. I also told both parents the same thing and neither of them had an issue with it.

As for chasing them, which didn't happen, if you'd reread my post a third time... I think they had much more of a chance of being hit by a car darting from house to house, running from what they were doing.

It's fine if people think I overreacted. I asked the question myself and thought about it throughout the night, but please, at least read the post right and don't read things into it that didn't happen.

 

[Buckalew11]

I think you all did the right thing. As a parent I would wantt o know if my child was up to this. I just do not think it is right to do. Someone did it to my mom right after my dad died last year and she was scared to death.

I remember the night my DH had a teenager out cleaning up egg off the sidewalk in front of my shop. It was actually right next to the driveway. He was just throwing eggs randomly and didn't mean for it to be in my yard but it landed in the wrong place and DH went and got him and had him clean it up.

I don't think the OP was meaning she'd shoot a kid for ringing her doorbell but I do think she meant to let them know it is not safe to scare homeowners who may have a gun. I've heard noises around my house at night and I have walked around with a gun looking for protection. My DH is a FF also so I know all about 24/48 off and feeling a bit vulnerable.

Yeras ago on halloween there was a kid who got into trouble at someone's house and the man came out with a gun and tracked the kid down and killed him. Was it right? No. But one never knows who they are dealing with.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I think you all did the right thing. As a parent I would wantt o know if my child was up to this. I just do not think it is right to do. Someone did it to my mom right after my dad died last year and she was scared to death.

I remember the night my DH had a teenager out cleaning up egg off the sidewalk in front of my shop. It was actually right next to the driveway. He was just throwing eggs randomly and didn't mean for it to be in my yard but it landed in the wrong place and DH went and got him and had him clean it up.

I don't think the OP was meaning she'd shoot a kid for ringing her doorbell but I do think she meant to let them know it is not safe to scare homeowners who may have a gun. I've heard noises around my house at night and I have walked around with a gun looking for protection. My DH is a FF also so I know all about 24/48 off and feeling a bit vulnerable.

Yeras ago on halloween there was a kid who got into trouble at someone's house and the man came out with a gun and tracked the kid down and killed him. Was it right? No. But one never knows who they are dealing with.

Actually when it happened the first time, the thought crossed my mind that someone was trying to lure us outside. I can see someone walking out with a gun and things going wrong. In my first post I think I mentioned that my husband went outside to find whomever it was, because I told him that I would have been freaked out had I been alone. He wanted to put a stop to it.

Someone mentioned Mayberry. I live in Houston. We have home invasions. We've had cases where people have lured people outside, and robbers have gone in through the back of the house while the homeowner was distracted.

Couple that with the fact that I just read that the majority of break-ins happen on December 28th and that houses get cased prior to that, I can guarantee you that I wouldn't be the only one spooked by what happened.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

AH, more DIS board wild over reacting!

Simple childhood prank, turned into federal case by adults.

ITA

 

[Ride Junkie]

Heh, I've never heard it called ding-dong ditch! We used to call it doorbell ditching. Not that I ever did such a thing.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

AH, more DIS board wild over reacting!

The dining plan caused the kids to ding dong ditch?

 

[disneyaggie]

The most important point you made was how dangerous it is what they're doing. Back in the day it was pretty much a harmless prank, but we live in a different world now. I think it's commendable that you took the time to get involved to the extent that you walked the boys home. Lots of people probably would have just given them a talking to and then dismissed them to be on their way. As a parent, I would appreciate the way you handled it and giving me the opportunity to discuss it with my child. As for the mad dad, well let that be a lesson for the young lad and hopefully the guy won't be too rough on his kid.

Well said! You did the right thing. And yes, you are correct. With so many folks carrying a gun nowadays, if these boys tried this trick at some house with a homeowner who carries a gun, the ending could be more tragic than a pretty ticked off dad. I think you handled it beautifully.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I'm not sure I would have been as dramatic as taking the boys home. They are not vandals. Also, what does being licensed to carry have to do with what they did? You would shoot at someone who rang your doorbell and ran? In that case, you might consider giving up your guns as this does not seem like an offense that would require firing a weapon.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[daisax]

Why would you answer the door in the first place? If there's not a police cruiser in my driveway, I'm not answering the door after 8 or 9. If it's somebody I know, they can call me or I'll see it's them through a window. Otherwise... why open the door at all?

Edit to say I don't mean the OP -- I just mean in general. I consider my home "closed" after dark, and if I didn't invite you, I'm not interested in what you're doing at my door. Especially if I can't see who just rang/knocked.

 

[Hercules10]

FWIW I think you did the right thing. What if the little goofs did this to a neighbor of yours that was a recent victim of a violent crime who WOULD have shot first and asked questions later. Yours was a easy and pain free lesson.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I think you did the right thing. If it was my kid I would want to know.

 

[mickeysgal]

We have a leaded glass front door (on its way out now, thanks to them) and both times I was sitting in front of it. So, I was in plan view, I'm sure.

Thats it! I'd get that Cantera door pronto.

We had kids do this to us three times in a week. DH went outside, found them and told them to go home. This was at 11pm. Hasn't happenened again since. I think they did it because they know we have three dogs and wanted to get them riled up. At the third time, we let the dogs out. That alone keeps people away.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I think you handled it well. I would hate to see my DH if the neighborhood kids did this. It's bad enough they play football in our yard and won't get out when we tell them to. I called the sheriff's office (anonymously, cell phone through work, to the non-emergency dispatch number) and had them take care of it last time. Now the kids are back playing soccer in the street next to our yard. It's only a matter of time until they are back in the yard. AND this is with them knowing DH is a police sergeant. I love my home but hate my neighborhood. A buncha punks running around.

 

[castleview]

I think you did the right thing. Don't feel bad. These kids could have been knocking on the door of a dangerous person for all they know. Plus, am I the only one who has a problem with a kid being out after dark just to hang out? Methinks they need something to do.

Sorry, but if my kids are going to hang out, they can do that inside the house.

 

[PatsGirl]

A buncha punks running around.

Wow! Are the kids that are playing football and soccer the punks you're talking about? Sure, I wouldn't be any too happy about them returning to my yard after being asked to leave, but this brings images of the nasty neighbors who hate kids I generally save the term punks for those kids hanging on the street corner, smoking cigs and yelling obscenities, not the ones playing ball. Maybe they do it just to drive you crazy

As for OP, I don't think you did anything wrong. I can see myself doing the same thing out of frustration but I think I'd have a good laugh with the parents after the kids had been sent out of earshot just to be sure they knew I wasn't insinuating their child was the devil incarnate. I think it's childish prank stuff but that doesn't mean they should not be called on it.

I remember a few childish pranks of my own, some we got away with, and some we didn't If you KNOW that you will not ever get caught, kinda takes the thrill away, doesn't it?

 

[arminnie]

Of course we wouldn't shoot anyone who rang our bell, but the boys need to realize that there are people here who do carry handguns and being spooked can sometimes lead to things going wrong.

I think you read a little too much into what I posted.

Wow I think some people are not getting the fact that what the OP did was to PROTECT those kids.

It must be nice to live in a place with little violent crime, but many of us don't. If I put in my address in the police department data file I can see all of the murders (many, many) that have occurred within a one mile radius of my home. And I live on the best street in the city.

Home invasions, random shootings, gang warfare are a fact of life. There are many terrified people out there. I do not have a gun, but I would guess that at least 25-30 people in my building do.

I live in a gated building, with armed security, and a coded elevator. Some one was robbed here on the 5th floor just two weeks ago. I personally would not be messing around with armed individuals who already feel like they are under siege.

Of course no one should kill a kid that rings a doorbell, but that won't matter at all if it's your kid who ends up dead.