Kids throwing rocks at windows nearly everyday. Won't stop.

Kids throwing rocks at windows nearly everyday. Won't stop.

Rental Property Investor · Canton, OH · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

Sorry for the lengthy post, but I've run into something I haven't had to deal with in the past. Not sure if there's much else I can do, but wanted to post what's going on here to see if I'm missing anything.

About a month ago 2 kids (maybe 14 years old) who get off the school bus 2 houses down, started throwing rocks at one my rentals. They've been doing it at least 1-2 times a week in broad daylight around the same time. So far they've shattered an 8 ft picture window (it's currently boarded up). 2 storm windows, and another bedroom window. On top of that, they put holes in the siding every time they miss a window. Tenant swears she's done nothing to provoke them. She did say she thinks it's intentional because it's happened to neighbors in the past. She also said an older guy came to her house around the time this started asking for money and she turned him down. His kids perhaps?

So far, I installed a solar Ring camera facing the back of the house (they have snuck around there in the past). She also just installed a Vivint? Security system where the doorbell sees the bus stop and the front of her property. There are also sensors on her doors and windows now. We have at least 6 police reports filed and video of them running away when they saw me sitting on the front step. Nothing of them throwing the rocks yet because each time they see someone now they run away. They always have covid masks on too. The city assigned a detective, and I thought this would be an easy thing to resolve since we know they get off the bus (some days) at the same time/spot. Unfortunately, this keeps dragging on and they continue to harass this tenant and destroy the property.

Should I tell the tenant to let them throw a couple rocks so we can finally get them on video?

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Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
4y

Why not try hiring a private detective to follow the kids home and then turn them into the Police (file a lawsuit against the parents, and a restraining order against the 14 year olds).

You only need to find the home of one, and he will Rat Out the rest under the (perceived) "third Degree" questioning by the Police Officers.

They might still throw rocks, but at least you can get a handle on it some what.

Maybe a witch lives there, or a monster, or a ghost--who knows--it's kids..(???)

Good Luck!

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  • Investor · Greeley, CO · Member since 2016 · 10 posts · 4 votes
    4y

    @CJ Literally had the same thing happen to me. Talked to the younger kids in the neighborhood (the suspects were bullies to them)and they told me who the kids were and where they lived. Police questioned one of the boys and he ratted the other one out. Ended up getting restitution from the parents to fix the damage.

  • Kenneth RolfePro Member
    Boise, ID · Member since 2018 · 57 posts · 39 votes
    4y

    @CJ M.

    My dad had a very similar problem a few years ago at his personal residence and I thought he had a good twist on his approach. He knew who the kids were that were doing it, so he made a point to be outside one day when he knew they’d be walking by. He approached them in a non-aggressive way and told him about a problem he was having with people throwing rocks at his house and offered them each twenty dollars to look out for and essentially protect his house. They accepted but a day or two later admitted it was them and apologized.

    Not sure it would work here since the kids are running away when you approach, but figured I would share in case it helps.

    Good Luck!

  • Shiloh LundahlPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Gilbert, AZ · Member since 2016 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    4y

    I’m not far off of what @Kenneth Rolfe stated. I don’t think this is as complicated as it appears. I would just knock on the doors of the homes in the neighborhood and hire some neighborhood 16 or 17 year olds to watch my house for some money to make sure no rocks are thrown at it. It’s likely that the older kids will run after and intimidate the younger kids to stop throwing the rocks. 

    Adults can’t seem to get away with what other kids can get away with when it comes to making other kids stop doing things. 

  • Real Estate Agent · Princeton, NJ · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    @CJ M. - I had multiple videos of people stealing stuff from me and the police didn’t take it seriously when I was filing police reports because the total loss was under $1500 each time. They took the report but didn’t review or even request the video. You admit that you don’t have any video evidence of these kids damaging your house. Without that, I don’t think you have a case anyone would take seriously. Even if you follow them home, the parents will say what’s the evidence? It wasn’t my kid!

    Do you need to replace the boarded windows so you don’t contribute to the perceived blight in this neighborhood? In my area I think they’d fine me for not repairing damage (even if I was terrified it would just happen again).

    Lastly, if you really want to know who these kids are, the bus driver and the other kids on the bus know. So go to the next stop and ask who they are after saying they left something at the bus stop.

    I like the guy’s recommendation to ask the perpetrators to “guard” the house for money. Seems like they’ve moved on for now anyway though. People like easy targets. Can you add a camera on your house opposite this house?

  • Rental Property Investor · Canton, OH · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    @Natalie Schanne

    Hi Natalie,

    Thanks for the response. I've answered some of your questions previously, but to get to the other ones:

    1. The damage is over $1500. I just haven't pulled the trigger on it since the kids haven't stopped yet.

    2. We have video of kids running away, but not in the act...yet.

    3. The city's code enforcement has been notified re: the boarded windows, and they understand the situation. No fines

  • Rental Property Investor · NJ · Member since 2020 · 60 posts · 16 votes
    4y

    I hate to say it but have you considered selling the property and buying another in a little better part of town?

  • Rental Property Investor · Canton, OH · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    Quick update from detective:
    "I talked to the SRO at the school and I have a name on both of these two juveniles. I will attempt to interview them at the school on Monday. There is no school tomorrow. I will also get there contact information including parents."

    I will provide another update next week...

  • Member since 2018 · 42 posts · 16 votes
    4y

    Quick word of advice: the cops won't do smack 80% of the time. Police reports end up in a database never to be touched again. They often show up quickly when you call them and can help you if a crime is still being perpetrated somewhere but if the crime already happened then nothing will help. 

    Buy high def video cameras, hide them well and keep them running 24/7 until you got the perpetrators. Then return them to the store so you don't have to spend any money.

    I love the idea of putting a Wanted sign up in the neighborhood. When I grew up as a teenager my friends and I were were also making our neighbors' lives hell, just because. The only thing that helps in this kind of situation is making the kids so scared they never want to come close to your property again. 

    Another idea is to install a net in front of the windows like a mosquito net but stronger to intercept the rocks. But that doesn't solve the root problem of course.

  • Member since 2018 · 42 posts · 16 votes
    4y
    Originally posted by @Account Closed:

    Quick update from detective:
    "I talked to the SRO at the school and I have a name on both of these two juveniles. I will attempt to interview them at the school on Monday. There is no school tomorrow. I will also get there contact information including parents."

    I will provide another update next week...

    This should solve the problem. I would suggest talking to their parents and seeing if they are interested in letting their kids work for you to make up the damages they have caused. You could say you're a real estate investor and if they do well you can teach them how they can become real estate investors, too. Depending on the parents you have an opportunity to change lives here. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Canton, OH · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    UPDATE FROM DETECTIVE:

    "I interviewed both kids today. They both confessed. I will get with the juvenile prosecutor and send everything I have to them. In the mean time I need you to get written estimates on all the damage that they caused. And how many windows did they break or cause damage to again?  That way when the prosecutor calls you, you can email them the damages and ask for restitution."

  • Colleen F.Pro Member
    Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    4y

    @Account Closed  congratulations and perhaps the kids will learn a lesson from this.  Don't expect restitution to be quick or automatic. The justice system moves very very slow.  It will be a while before the case is heard, sentenced and restitution ordered.  I am glad you got the rock throwing out of your neighborhood and it is great you came back and told us the resolution. 

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