Nuisance children

sithmaster

Hi all I'm looking for some advice.
One of close neighbours 3 children are constantly knocking on my door.
They know my son and daughter have a bike and they want to use them, never have I heard them say can my children go out to play its just wanting to use the bikes.

Sometimes I let my children go out but when they cant because we're going out, busy or the weather is bad these kids are constantly ringing the bell to ask for the bikes.

Yesterday it was raining so I said to them my kids were not going out because its raining even then they were ringing the bell all day, when I say no they try to open my locked garage to help themselves. 
I have caught them climbing my trellis and pulling the door handles of my car.
They are completely unsupervised and ages 7 and below.
When I spoken to the mom she was not interested.
I have seen them outside in the rain at times with no shoes or coat on.

My son who has mental disabilities is unable to see they don't want him just his bike and my wife has mobility issues so can't keep answering the door all day.

How do I tackle this issue?

Thank you

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

sithmaster said:

Hi all I'm looking for some advice.
One of close neighbours 3 children are constantly knocking on my door.
They know my son and daughter have a bike and they want to use them, never have I heard them say can my children go out to play its just wanting to use the bikes.

Sometimes I let my children go out but when they cant because we're going out, busy or the weather is bad these kids are constantly ringing the bell to ask for the bikes.

Yesterday it was raining so I said to them my kids were not going out because its raining even then they were ringing the bell all day, when I say no they try to open my locked garage to help themselves. 
I have caught them climbing my trellis and pulling the door handles of my car.
They are completely unsupervised and ages 7 and below.
When I spoken to the mom she was not interested.
I have seen them outside in the rain at times with no shoes or coat on.

My son who has mental disabilities is unable to see they don't want him just his bike and my wife has mobility issues so can't keep answering the door all day.

How do I tackle this issue?

Thank you

I think the best course of action is consistency. 

Don't allow them on the bikes, at all. Ensure the bikes are locked at all times. When they ring the first time, say no. When they ring a second time, Tell them that you have already told them no and to stop. Personally I wouldn't let your children play with them either! 

Keep a log of when they are doing it, and ultimately build a case for harassment. 

breaking_free

sithmaster said:

...constantly knocking on my door.
...constantly ringing the bell to ask for the bikes.
...ringing the bell all day
...my wife has mobility issues so can't keep answering the door all day.

How do I tackle this issue?

I'm going to be harsh: you can start by not exaggerating - see bits in bold that I've quoted. Approaching mum was a good idea, but if you said to her what you stated to us I'm not surprised that she blew you off. She probably saw you as overreacting.

These are just little kids and you are the adult, so you get to lay down the rules (but you can do it nicely). The poster above has given excellent advice

"Don't allow them on the bikes at all. Ensure the bikes are locked at all times. When they ring the first time, say no. When they ring a second time, tell them that you have already told them no and to stop."

If you follow this approach consistently it will work.
I wish you all the best.

pinkshoes

You need to be assertive and say NO.

When they come to the door just tell them you have plans that day. If they ask for the bikes tell them that the bikes belong to YOUR kids and perhaps they should ask for one for their birthday.

Could you do a Facebook post asking of anyone is giving away a free bike that these kids could have?

Mojisola

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel said:

Keep a log of when they are doing it, and ultimately build a case for harassment. 

This is vital.

sithmaster

breaking_free said:

sithmaster said:

...constantly knocking on my door.
...constantly ringing the bell to ask for the bikes.
...ringing the bell all day
...my wife has mobility issues so can't keep answering the door all day.

How do I tackle this issue?

I'm going to be harsh: you can start by not exaggerating - see bits in bold that I've quoted. Approaching mum was a good idea, but if you said to her what you stated to us I'm not surprised that she blew you off. She probably saw you as overreacting.

These are just little kids and you are the adult, so you get to lay down the rules (but you can do it nicely). The poster above has given excellent advice

"Don't allow them on the bikes at all. Ensure the bikes are locked at all times. When they ring the first time, say no. When they ring a second time, tell them that you have already told them no and to stop."

If you follow this approach consistently it will work.
I wish you all the best.

Actually it is all day its now 13:50 and since 10am they have been round 6 times and each time I said no, I have cctv of this.
I said to mom to stop them messing with my car.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

sithmaster said:

breaking_free said:

sithmaster said:

...constantly knocking on my door.
...constantly ringing the bell to ask for the bikes.
...ringing the bell all day
...my wife has mobility issues so can't keep answering the door all day.

How do I tackle this issue?

I'm going to be harsh: you can start by not exaggerating - see bits in bold that I've quoted. Approaching mum was a good idea, but if you said to her what you stated to us I'm not surprised that she blew you off. She probably saw you as overreacting.

These are just little kids and you are the adult, so you get to lay down the rules (but you can do it nicely). The poster above has given excellent advice

"Don't allow them on the bikes at all. Ensure the bikes are locked at all times. When they ring the first time, say no. When they ring a second time, tell them that you have already told them no and to stop."

If you follow this approach consistently it will work.
I wish you all the best.

Actually it is all day its now 13:50 and since 10am they have been round 6 times and each time I said no, I have cctv of this.
I said to mom to stop them messing with my car.

Do you have a PSCO / Beat clinic? 

Maybe have a little chat? They may be able to deter them? 

You do need to keep a log though of days/times and what's happened - Not only the knocking but also when they try to break into your property to get the bikes

T.T.D

Lets be real, children in England and Wales (differs in Scotland) under 10 cannot be charged with committing a criminal offence.
Scrap any thoughts on a harassment or community order. 

From what I seen written by the OP nothing rises to a level of a criminal offence in anti social behaviour legislation or outside of this legislation.
Their not playing knock knock run away, their not shouting obscenities, steeling the bikes their just an annoyance.

The children here are 7 or under, in context we have children in this case who lack the clear under standing of social right and wrong’s, who lack the understanding of how their actions are impacting others around them, they’re bored, they don’t have niceties and and want the ability to play with something they get pleasure out of and it keeps them focused. Being persistent I suspect works with their MUM/MAM to get them what they want and they are applying what they have learned to play with your sons bikes.

In all honesty if their just focused on getting themselves bikes to play with and MUM/MAM is probably indigent, I would probably keep my eye out for free bikes and stabilisers on Facebook market place/on a scrap man’s van, and give them a fix up and give them their own, it certainly would cure the door knocking problem, occupy them and stimulate them on their days off school (they should be in school today) and won’t get me into some argument with the mum.

Shelldean

T.T.D said:

Lets be real, children in England and Wales (differs in Scotland) under 10 cannot be charged with committing a criminal offence.
Scrap any thoughts on a harassment or community order. 

From what I seen written by the OP nothing rises to a level of a criminal offence in anti social behaviour legislation or outside of this legislation.
Their not playing knock knock run away, their not shouting obscenities, steeling the bikes their just an annoyance.

The children here are 7 or under, in context we have children in this case who lack the clear under standing of social right and wrong’s, who lack the understanding of how their actions are impacting others around them, they’re bored, they don’t have niceties and and want the ability to play with something they get pleasure out of and it keeps them focused. Being persistent I suspect works with their MUM/MAM to get them what they want and they are applying what they have learned to play with your sons bikes.

In all honesty if their just focused on getting themselves bikes to play with and MUM/MAM is probably indigent, I would probably keep my eye out for free bikes and stabilisers on Facebook market place/on a scrap man’s van, and give them a fix up and give them their own, it certainly would cure the door knocking problem, occupy them and stimulate them on their days off school (they should be in school today) and won’t get me into some argument with the mum.

not necessarily some schools have inset day today!

sheramber

If you see who is at teh door and know it is them, don't answer the door.

If you do answer and it is them just say no and close the door. No other response or clarification , just a straight no and close the door. 

As above mum probably gives in to constant asking so they repeat it with you.

My BIL asked my young nephew why he kept asking his mother when she had said no. Nephew replied, because eventually she will say yes.

theoretica

Is your doorbell easy to move out of reach?