Nuisance children

Peterrr

pinkshoes said:

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

Great reply. Surely spending £20 on a second hand bike would be worth the peace, and also ensure good relations with the neighbours? Best to pass the bike(s) to the parents with a story of "friends of ours were giving these away and we thought your kids would enjoy them"

sheramber

What else would they be looking for the OP to buy.? Maybe a computer or a play station?

Don't encourage them. They will just keep coming back.  

Ignore them, do not interact with them. To begin with they will persist- extinction burst-  but will eventually get the message.

Grit your teeth, count  to a n hundred, and be  more stubborn than them.

Maskface

annabanana82 said:

Maskface said:

annabanana82 said:

You could always look for a couple of cheap second hand bikes for the children next door. Might be the easiest way to solve the problem. 

But if one is at least 7, surely rather are at school 6 hours a day?

To be fair perhaps their own parent should be looking for a couple of cheap second hand bikes for them. 

Well, yes the parent should buy the bike but if they are as poor and neglected as the OP suggests then I don't imagine that would happy any time soon. 

And when they keep wanting to come indoors to play on your kids play station? Go out and buy them a cheap second hand one so they don't keep knocking? Where does it end? I honestly don't think it's the solution. At the end of the day their mother should be the one ensuring her kids are not making a nuisance of themselves keep knocking on people's doors every five minutes and trespassing. Maybe that's the real issue that needs looking at here rather than just papering over the cracks, the neglect itself? 

thorsoak

sithmaster said:

elsien said:

How many times have you actually spoken to the mother. Once isn’t enough. I’d be keeping going round there. 

You also haven’t mentioned the father. Does he live at the address and if she have you tried talking to him? 

I have never seen dad so don't believe he is on the scene.
I think she is single parent so probably just want the kids out her hair.

They are giving you aggravation - so send it back to mum.  For every time they knock on your door and ask, knock on hers and complain - and tell her that you will continue to knock on her door as often as they knock on yours ...until she stops her children from so doing.

lady1964

As nice as a suggestion is to buy/get free bikes for the neighbours kids, this could backfire badly. The mum could get very offended and accuse you of treating them like a charity case. She may be a ‘poor’ single mum but she may still have her pride.

I think either getting a video doorbell or trying to have another word with mum would be the way I’d go.

TBagpuss

I agree that speaking to the mum again is a good idea. Maybe go round immediately after then next knock at your door and be very clear. I don't think it is your responsibility but if you anted toyou could look to see whether there is a local freecycle / facebook group where mum might be able to get freee/ cheap bikes forthem and suggest it to her - maybe say 'I know they want to use the bikes. They can't use ours, but I know there are often / sometimes bikes availbale for free or very cheap on [site] - maybe you could look at getting them their own? 

Id alsbe very, very consistent - the answer is always no, it's likely that they will eventually stop if they never get anhy encouragement.I'd also stop answering the door. Maybe take the batteries out of the doorbell for a bit (if you are expecting anyone, ask them to text you instead!) 
Is your front door on the street or do you have a front garden? A garden gate with a stiff latch might reduce the prodlem if it is an issue. 

You could get in touch with the children & social care deptatment of your local council (social services) to raise concerns about theim being unsupervised, and being out in cold waether / rain without shoes / coats . Most social services are very busy and often having to focus on the most serious concners but it might lead to them being contacted and offered a bit of support, especially if there have been  other issues raised relation to the same family, for instnace through their schools etc.

JReacher1

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel said:

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. 

Would you really build a case for harassment against three children all under the age of 7? Is that what the world has come to?

T.T.D

JReacher1 said:

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel said:

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. 

Would you really build a case for harassment against three children all under the age of 7? Is that what the world has come to?

It would never happen. Not even with the parent. 

You would be surprised how many people think they can have people “charged” for the most silly mundane daily living things wasting police time and other resources. 

People need to come to the realisation that being an annoyance is not always synonymous with being anti social, being an annoyance is simply not illegal, there is a legal definitive line where laws come into effect and where it doesn’t.  

Even if the OP and or the mother was in council or social housing or vice versa, it wouldn’t even rise to the level of issuing a notice of breach of tenancy. That’s not to say that a tenancy “officer” or neighbour relations department may write to the mum to make her aware that the children have caused an annoyance by the knocking of a neighbours door repeatedly, but there would be nothing (even with a log of it all times dates and dotted I’s and T’s with CCTV of them doing it) would trigger anything more than a letter until it went above a clearly defined line in the tenancy agreement, and a mile higher to get it on neighbourhood policing teams radar. 

By all means if the OP seriously believes the children are being neglected in some way then they should report this. 

Claddagh_Noir

I agree with the majority here. Do no purchase anything for the kids, it will lead to them knocking on the door for more freebies and that in itself could be misconstrued. 

As soon as the kids myther and harangue you do the same to the mother by knocking on her door. Hopefully, if she has any ounce of intelligence she will realise its not on what her offspring are doing. If I had children and they were being a pest to the neighbours or anyone, I would be mortified.

I was having a nightmare with a neighbour's dog persistently yapping all the time while I was WFH. I messaged the neighbour and it has now stopped, the neighbour has kept a low profile too. I would not dream of beings I am supposed to be responsible for be allowed to run amok in the area! But then again SOME people have no shame, lack common sense, decurum and breeding these days. 

This woman need to control her latchkey children!  I hope this ceases by the time the summer holidays commence.

sithmaster

Thanks all for the reply. Today one of the kids got into my garage.
I went round and told mom I have cctv footage of it and if it happens again I will call the police.
She said go ahead I don't care !!

I don't blame the kids as they know no better but the mom should be controlling them