Averted a potential break-in

[PatMcD]

I probably would have done the same thing as the OP, then called the cops. Let them be on the lookout for the douchebags. It might at least scare them out of the neighborhood.

The "don't call the cops" guys really have me scratching my head.

 

[Martlet]

The "don't call the cops" guys really have me scratching my head.

Most of them are the same guys that would walk past you being victimized because it's "none of their business" and they can't "put themselves at risk". Nothing new.

 

[American 1]

I would have snapped a few pictures. Usually these kids are well known. Kids today are such punks. It would be real hard to resist giveing them a beating.

This !! Two-fold benefit...Capture imbred facial features for LE id purposes and secondly instigate a self-defense ass whooping.

- - - Updated - -

 

[USMA-82]

I probably would have done the same thing as the OP, then called the cops. Let them be on the lookout for the douchebags. It might at least scare them out of the neighborhood.

The "don't call the cops" guys really have me scratching my head.

+1

Sometimes you have to let the cops earn their pay.

 

[Chet0729]

OK heroes, you go running over and go all Zimmerman on their asses! are you saying that you wouldn't call the cops if you saw some scumbag thieves breaking into your neighbor's house?

Where did I even eluded playing a hero, I think your reading comprehension is a little off. I just stated that it was the first time on here that I actually saw multiple people suggest calling the police or JBT as they are lovingly know as on here.
I personally would have called, took pictures and than confronted in that order.

Merry Christmas

 

[Chet0729]

No surprise at all. Put even the slightest bit of fear or pressure on people and they run to the first authority they can find. Keep in mind that a huge portion of posters here are very pro-authority (i.e., typical republicans). Nothing makes those guys happier than the idea of police pushing people around for non-conformity ("looking street").

I don't think the issue was that they looked street, the issue was they were trespassing. I think he would have reacted the same if they were in shirts and ties.

Merry Christmas

 

[Gillham]

I still stand behind calling the cops. Call the station, not 911.

These kids might've hit a different house and need your description of them. Or there's been recent burglaries elsewhere a few streets away and now they know to setup a patrol in that area. You never know. Get something on paper. And if they don't do anything about it, what'd it cost you? 30 minutes of your time?



-------------
Excuse the brevity, I'm mobile.

 

[PatMcD]

I still stand behind calling the cops. Call the station, not 911.

These kids might've hit a different house and need your description of them. Or there's been recent burglaries elsewhere a few streets away and now they know to setup a patrol in that area. You never know. Get something on paper. And if they don't do anything about it, what'd it cost you? 30 minutes of your time?



-------------
Excuse the brevity, I'm mobile.

My town doesn't have a police force, but our County Sheriff's Dept. is all over stuff like this. You make a call and you will get a follow up from a Deputy.
The cops aren't the enemy up here. That probably makes me a Statist, Fudd, or some other NES insult.

My "neighborhood" is very rural, but we are all fairly tight. If I see strangers in my buddy's dooryard when I know he's not home, I'm stopping and asking them what they are doing. If I get a shady answer, I'm calling the cops. Chased off some door-to-door "Meat salesmen" that way a year ago. We don't have a lot of break-in's, and I want to keep it that way.

 

[mikem317]

I probably would have done the same thing as the OP, then called the cops. Let them be on the lookout for the douchebags. It might at least scare them out of the neighborhood.

The "don't call the cops" guys really have me scratching my head.

Yeah, I don't get it either. The Holiday Season is traditionally Home Burglary Open Season as many folks are away from home, often times out-of-state for several days/weeks. Criminals are often labeled "dumb" but sometimes they're logical.

Only things I would piggyback on here is to 1. Carry concealed if you're licensed to do so - this could have turned from an attempted home burglary to assault (or even attempted murder), 2. Take pictures with smart phone, 3. Contact the cops with descriptions, date/time, address, etc., and finally 4. Contact the neighbors to verify if haven't already done so.

 

[mikem317]

Where did I even eluded playing a hero, I think your reading comprehension is a little off. I just stated that it was the first time on here that I actually saw multiple people suggest calling the police or JBT as they are lovingly know as on here.
I personally would have called, took pictures and than confronted in that order.

Merry Christmas

JBT != Peace officer.

JBT is when a cop threatens you with a ticket for washing your car in your own driveway.

Peace officers are duty-bound to protect the peace and protect the community at large and observe/document/investigate/prosecute as necessary.

 

[Bonesinium]

Looking "street" on my front porch while I'm not home warrants a call to the cops, end of story. What is the alternative, shoot them? Or are you suggesting that they had a right to be there?

Not sure where you've been, but if you can't figure out an alternative after reading this thread and how the OP DID handle it, you cannot be helped.

 

[japollner]

2 kids loitering in a good position to warn if the home owners returned. 2 kids trespassing on the front porch of an empty house. They had to go through the fenced gate to get there, so there was some intent to trespass... and I'm guessing some other shady stuff.

I talked to my neighbor and he said his 19 yo daughter was at work and wasn't exoecting anyone. The teens seemed too young to have any dealings with his daughter. 15-16 max.

19 year old daughter was not at work. Probably selling dope. Kids were hoping to score some drugs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TimMcG74]

Not sure where you've been, but if you can't figure out an alternative after reading this thread and how the OP DID handle it, you cannot be helped.

It is the job of the police to investigate suspicious activity, determine if a crime has been committed, and make an arrest if it has. Do you have the authority to arrest someone? Intimidating a suspect in to leaving the scene might prevent a break in at that moment in time, but it does little or nothing for the next unsuspecting shmuck whose home will be targeted by the criminal you just scared away. My house has been robbed, and I've confronted suspicious, unfamiliar people I've seen lurking in my neighbors yard once or twice since then. Had they not convinced me that they belonged there, would I have followed up with a (non-emergency) call to the police? Of course I would have. Why? Because it's their job. If someone had done the same to the scumbag who hit my house on one of his previous crimes, maybe my wife would still have the jewelry her dead father gave her. But maybe you're right - calling the cops isn't the tough guy thing to do. Next time I'll light up a Newport and hope I scare the perp straight.

 

[J.A.C]

Half the battle of breakins and the such by punks is living in a neighborhood where people actually give a crap about their neighbors like the OP. We had a kid using our street to meet people to sell drugs. One car would stop and then wait for the dealer. Well Neighbors noticed talked to eachother got plates and then worked with the police. Hasn't happened in a while.

At one poing during the middle of a nice day during the fall a car full of guys stopped at the end of the street and sat there, we all knew why, so 4 of us walked over and asked if they needed help or were lost. They replied with attitude they were all set. So we said well we know there has been some drug dealing on the street so if your not lost get lost and took a picture of their plate. So far no retailiation has been seen, slashed tires, etc.

 

[Bonesinium]

It is the job of the police to investigate suspicious activity, determine if a crime has been committed, and make an arrest if it has.

It is the job of everyone in a community to look out for each other. You don't need the police for that. It is called being a good person. Seeing kids loitering where they shouldn't be isn't evidence of anything besides kids loitering...things that kids tend to do. If when you tell them to scram, and they scram, that seems to solve the problem pretty quick don't you think? Or I guess you can wait for the police to show up and do the same. Your call.

Do you have the authority to arrest someone? Intimidating a suspect in to leaving the scene might prevent a break in at that moment in time, but it does little or nothing for the next unsuspecting shmuck whose home will be targeted by the criminal you just scared away.

And when the police show up and tell them to beat it, that somehow prevents them from not committing crimes in the future? See something say something has got you hook, line, and sinker.

My house has been robbed, and I've confronted suspicious, unfamiliar people I've seen lurking in my neighbors yard once or twice since then.

Sorry your house has been robbed, by why would you confront suspicious people??? You mean you didn't immediately call the police? Weird. Do as I say not as I do sort of thing? Why were you just arguing against confronting suspicious people in favor off calling police? Are you always this contradictory?

Had they not convinced me that they belonged there, would I have followed up with a (non-emergency) call to the police? Of course I would have. Why? Because it's their job. If someone had done the same to the scumbag who hit my house on one of his previous crimes, maybe my wife would still have the jewelry her dead father gave her.

Ahh, I see now. It is emotional for you. That some douchebag stole your dead father-in-laws jewelry means everyone suspicious is a burglar and you should call the police straight away.

But maybe you're right - calling the cops isn't the tough guy thing to do. Next time I'll light up a Newport and hope I scare the perp straight.

Where is this coming from? The OP confronted them (like you said you have done before, hypocrite), and they left. Only you and your strawman are talking about murdering suspicious people and 'intimidating them'. Me and others are talking about telling them to beat it when they aren't suppose to be there.

Good luck to you. I'm sure if you call the police enough on your neighbors they will surely be willing to make sure to look out for you...

 

[TimMcG74]

It is the job of everyone in a community to look out for each other. You don't need the police for that. It is called being a good person. Seeing kids loitering where they shouldn't be isn't evidence of anything besides kids loitering...things that kids tend to do. If when you tell them to scram, and they scram, that seems to solve the problem pretty quick don't you think? Or I guess you can wait for the police to show up and do the same. Your call.



And when the police show up and tell them to beat it, that somehow prevents them from not committing crimes in the future? See something say something has got you hook, line, and sinker.




Sorry your house has been robbed, by why would you confront suspicious people??? You mean you didn't immediately call the police? Weird. Do as I say not as I do sort of thing? Why were you just arguing against confronting suspicious people in favor off calling police? Are you always this contradictory?



Ahh, I see now. It is emotional for you. That some douchebag stole your dead father-in-laws jewelry means everyone suspicious is a burglar and you should call the police straight away.



Where is this coming from? The OP confronted them (like you said you have done before, hypocrite), and they left. Only you and your strawman are talking about murdering suspicious people and 'intimidating them'. Me and others are talking about telling them to beat it when they aren't suppose to be there.

Good luck to you. I'm sure if you call the police enough on your neighbors they will surely be willing to make sure to look out for you...

Evidently, your reading comprehension is extremely low. First, the kids weren't hanging around on the street in front of the house, they were on the OPs neighbors porch. I believe he also said they had to pass through a gated fence to get there. That's not loitering, it's trespassing. If they had no reason to be there it's perfectly reasonable to suspect they were up to no good.

Second, I never said a thing about not confronting them. Go back and read the post. I said that a call to the police was probably warranted. You seem not to understand that it's possible to do both.

It's possible that the police could prevent a future break in because if they were burglars, it's highly unlikely that it was their first time. Maybe they fit a description or have a warrant. Maybe they have stolen merch on them.

When did I say I called the police on my neighbors? I casually asked a couple of questions of an unfamiliar guy who was in my neighbors yard while they were on vacation. He turned out to be a contractor who was doing an estimate. He turned out to be a good guy and a couple months later I hired him to work on my house. If he didn't have any business being there I would have told him to get lost, then called the police with a description. That makes me some kind of slave to authority in your book? That's pretty bizarre logic. The police exist for that sort of thing. It's entirely possible to look out for your own community and run off suspicious people while also involving the police occasionally when it's appropriate. When you think a B&E might be taking place, as the OP did, it's appropriate. I'm not saying he should or shouldn't have, that's his business, but the last thing it would have been was an example of "see something, say something". It's not statist to report what you suspect is a crime in your neighborhood.

 

[Twelve Gauge Justice]

 

[Hiltonizer]

It is the job of the police to investigate suspicious activity, determine if a crime has been committed, and make an arrest if it has. Do you have the authority to arrest someone? Intimidating a suspect in to leaving the scene might prevent a break in at that moment in time, but it does little or nothing for the next unsuspecting shmuck whose home will be targeted by the criminal you just scared away. My house has been robbed, and I've confronted suspicious, unfamiliar people I've seen lurking in my neighbors yard once or twice since then. Had they not convinced me that they belonged there, would I have followed up with a (non-emergency) call to the police? Of course I would have. Why? Because it's their job. If someone had done the same to the scumbag who hit my house on one of his previous crimes, maybe my wife would still have the jewelry her dead father gave her. But maybe you're right - calling the cops isn't the tough guy thing to do. Next time I'll light up a Newport and hope I scare the perp straight.

Gubbmint to the rescue!

 

[AntiHippie]

How did I guess this thread would end up like this?

 

[Terminator03]

Dollars to donuts no one here would call if they were liable for a fee for a pointless report. You would only call because it was "free". Waste, Fraud, Abuse ground zero.

Not sure if serious here... WTF does any of this have to do with abuse, fraud, etc. It's getting the very agency that WE already pay to sit on their asses to actually come out and do what we are paying them for! I'm not a cop, and I suspect you aren't either, so why pretend we are? I, like most people here believe in not interacting with police any more than is necessary, but in the case of the situation in the OP, or the one I described earlier, those are prime situations to let the police do their job and investigate. By the OP getting involved directly (not saying he was wrong to do that, btw), he did open himself up to potential retaliation at a later date because they know where HE lives now. He can't be home all the time, or awake all the time...

 

[Terrys]

I, for one, won't quibble about whether you should or shouldn't have called LE; you did what you thought was right in that moment of time. You're a good neighbor and I wish there were more like you. +rep for your action.

 

[Hiltonizer]

Not sure if serious here... WTF does any of this have to do with abuse, fraud, etc. It's getting the very agency that WE already pay to sit on their asses to actually come out and do what we are paying them for! I'm not a cop, and I suspect you aren't either, so why pretend we are? I, like most people here believe in not interacting with police any more than is necessary, but in the case of the situation in the OP, or the one I described earlier, those are prime situations to let the police do their job and investigate. By the OP getting involved directly (not saying he was wrong to do that, btw), he did open himself up to potential retaliation at a later date because they know where HE lives now. He can't be home all the time, or awake all the time...

I don't think its very smart to decry socialist, rail against the government who's sole purpose exists to shit on your rights, and then call them at the drop of the hat for help. It's pretty simple. For all the anti-socialist speak on here, NES'rs sure love socialist services.

 

[Rivers of Blood]

This actually would have been the smartest move of all. Just start snapping pictures of them in an obvious way. Don't confront at all. Let them confront you to find out why you are taking pics. If ANYTHING happens in the neighborhood you have good suspects to show the police. Good insurance if nothing else.

My sister in law and her family live in Nashua. A couple of weeks ago, their 18 year old son confronted a young black guy with a hoodie in their driveway at about 2am. The kid ran off when her son came out on their deck and turned the light on. Fast forward to 2 nights ago, and their SUV got broken into and had a good amount of Christmas presents they were hiding from their kids stolen out of the cargo area. Too bad the son wasn't thinking quick enough to photograph that kid in the hoodie, because I suspect it was the same kid, or he at least knew who did it. ****ing scumbag thieves!

- - - Updated - - -



This would have been awesome! Say you saw what appeared to be assault rifles in their hands!

 

[TimMcG74]

Agreeing to disagree. Merry Christmas.

 

[Rivers of Blood]

I don't think its very smart to decry socialist, rail against the government who's sole purpose exists to shit on your rights, and then call them at the drop of the hat for help. It's pretty simple. For all the anti-socialist speak on here, NES'rs sure love socialist services.

Do you drive on roads lol?

 

[Hiltonizer]

Do you drive on roads lol?

When I do it's the worst part of my day. I'd like to see them privatized.

 

[Martlet]

Do you drive on roads lol?

And gets properly licensed. And pays taxes. etc. etc. ad nauseum.

Hypocrites 'R Us

 

[economist]

And gets properly licensed. And pays taxes. etc. etc. ad nauseum.

Hypocrites 'R Us

I'm all for fair argument, and opinions vary. Libertarians and republicans simply do not agree on much. But how can you criticize a man for the product of government coercion which you support? Is he supposed to sacrifice himself in order to make legitimate his objection to such force?

 

[Martlet]

I'm all for fair argument, and opinions vary. Libertarians and republicans simply do not agree on much. But how can you criticize a man for the product of government coercion which you support? Is he supposed to sacrifice himself in order to make legitimate his objection to such force?

I'm blaming nobody. I pointing out the hypocrisy. He's utilizing socialist services while criticizing others for doing the same. If you're going to have principles, then have them. Don't pretend to when it's convenient.

 

[mark056]

Well I've read a lot of big talk, don't know who the big talkers, mother's basement dwellers are, but I suspect it would include a sizable number of the posters, then there is the fella who has to put his unique utopian vision and give that a spin.

Truth, most of you are not street smart, do not deal with crime or the criminal class. You will react, not rationalize. Too many of you are legends in your own mind.

To the OP: you did a good job. I wouldn't worry too much about those punks coming back. Could you have done better? Sure, but that can be said of any action. Everyday the citizenry thwarts crime and it doesn't get reported to the police, and if it does, what can they do? The police are a reactive force.

Biggest mistake of OP: just having to "share" your experience with potentially 18,000 or so of your best buds. Why the compulsion to share with a bunch of yayhoos who have even less experience than you?

Simple sad truth is that MOST of you simply don't know what you are talking about, and what some of you are advocating would get you in prison and not the alleged bad guys.