Someone shot out my back tire, again!

[Farmwithjunk]

Do you have manure spreader ?

YUP! Got my own golf clubs too. As an old artilleryman, I'm thinking COUNTER-BATTERY FIRE.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

FWJ,
So how do you get the video evidence? Time delay, heat or infared activation? Or just sit out in the barn waiting on the kid to come up with enough balls to start hitting some of them your way? I am pretty sure the parents would have to change their mind should you come up with evidence and are heading towards the police station with it. However, you are right in having to deal with the fallout, which is easier said than done. I am a stubborn cuss and would just have to deal with it, because anyone damaging my property would be headed for a run in with me. One of my many faults, no doubt!
David from jax

I think the point the police were trying to make was the chances of catching him in the act were about as likely as me being out in the pasture with a camera in hand.

The house where the kid lives is up for sale. And, coincidentally, a U-Haul truck just pulled into the driveway. My problems may be on the way to YOUR neighborhood soon

 

[markmc]

It sure isn't a bullit, but I've got a neighbor kid who's smacking golf balls at my barn. The culprit and his parents live on a road that runs along side of my place. Unless this kid can out drive Tiger Woods, the balls hitting my barn are being hit from my property. He's made himself visable before and after several of the incidents, carrying a golf club as he walks down the road. The police, while attemping to be cooperative, have laid out what we're dealing with. They either need to see it happen, have an independant witness see it, or I can capture it on video. Otherwise, it's my word against Jr.'s If we do catch him red handed, he's 15. Slap on the wrist, send him home to mommy, and essentially do nothing. Ever deal with a punk teenager who you've just had arrested? Quite possible he takes his actions to the next level. Mommy and daddy both work quite a bit apparently. I can't seem to catch either at home. As good a chance as not, I confront them and THEY become irate. Ever accuse someones "angel" of being a delinquent?

SOMETIMES, the best course of action is to do absolutely nothing. Kid gets bored and goes off to pester someone else. To assume confronting the "wrong-do-er" will make things right can put you right in the crosshairs sometimes. Proceed with caution.

Knowing the right course of action is always tough when you are the one who could face the exscalation into a full blown "McCoys and Hatfields" saga...BUT a wise man once told me to. "run toward the problem, not away from it".

Many times I have gone with my fears and regretted it. Other times I have been confrontational and deeply regretted it. If you confront calmly but firmly and take a witness you may put the "fear of God" into a boy who very well could need just the medicine that you dish out to him.

When I was a lad, my parents where confronted by irrate neighbours because me and the lads were throwing unripe lemons onto their roof. I never forgot the humiliation from being forced to aplogize to that family....and I never did it again. Run towards the problem....

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Knowing the right course of action is always tough when you are the one who could face the exscalation into a full blown "McCoys and Hatfields" saga...BUT a wise man once told me to. "run toward the problem, not away from it".

Many times I have gone with my fears and regretted it. Other times I have been confrontational and deeply regretted it. If you confront calmly but firmly and take a witness you may put the "fear of God" into a boy who very well could need just the medicine that you dish out to him.

When I was a lad, my parents where confronted by irrate neighbours because me and the lads were throwing unripe lemons onto their roof. I never forgot the humiliation from being forced to aplogize to that family....and I never did it again. Run towards the problem....

I'm not "doing nothing" out of fear. More a case of knowing the futility of escalating an issue that may just be going away on it's own. Another wise man once said, "Discretion is the better part of valor". If I had iron clad evidence, or the willingness of the police to take up my cause, or even the thought of the problem continuing, I'd be front and center, going after the problem. But what is now only an irritating situation could just as easily become a full blown legal Pandora's Box. At that point, this kid went from making me mad to costing me time and money, all the while, I can't gain anything and will most likely lose something.

In past generations, parents took responsibility for the actions of their kids. Times have changed.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Have a good dog (Black Lab), and she runs loose outside, think she may have licked his hand, she loves everybody. Also, have a 12 gauge, and a 30-06, 20guage, another 12 guage, a 22 rifle, and a 32 hand gun. All were (are) unloaded. But after he left the first time the officers asked if I had a gun? Told him yes. He said I should have stepped outside and fired into the air to scare him off. Told the officer if I had stepped outside I wouldn't have shot in the air. He told me I could be prosecuted if I shot him and he wasn't breaking into my home. I told him he would have been by the time they got here, and they would have asked me why I shot him 9 times, and I would tell them because I hadn't reloaded yet.

***
Hadn't had a loaded gun in the house in 25 years. But it is now, and will be for the future.

Sounds you dealt with a pretty decent officer. But while you may have enjoyed the comments about shooting, they will be really bad for you if you ever have to actually shoot in self-defense. Just FYI; no matter how nice and decent the officer is, you don't want to make any trigger-happy comments to them.

I haven't been without a loaded gun in the house for several years now.

 

[markmc]

I'm not "doing nothing" out of fear. More a case of knowing the futility of escalating an issue that may just be going away on it's own. Another wise man once said, "Discretion is the better part of valor". If I had iron clad evidence, or the willingness of the police to take up my cause, or even the thought of the problem continuing, I'd be front and center, going after the problem. But what is now only an irritating situation could just as easily become a full blown legal Pandora's Box. At that point, this kid went from making me mad to costing me time and money, all the while, I can't gain anything and will most likely lose something.

In past generations, parents took responsibility for the actions of their kids. Times have changed.

I hear ya...about the out of control kids....it really is a different world we live in.

If it keeps happening you could send the kid a gift wrapped $3box of golf balls and a note offerring to help him with his swing to stop him from "inadvertantly" hitting your barn in future..or something to that effect

 

[Redbug]

Hi DixieDrifter,

Reading your post and the thread, I think it is just kids clowning around doing minor vandalism for the kicks it gives. Like smashing mailboxes at night. I think if it were someone wanting to do real damage to you maliciously, they would have done things differently...Like taken pot shots into your tractor's engine compartment where they know it would cause real damage and hardship.

You showed great restraint Motepoc! You must have a Concealed Weapons Permit and understand the law...A gun can only be legally used to protect yourself or others from bodily harm, not to protect property. However, I believe Florida and one or two other states may have changed the law to include property, also. That would be nice, especially in a disaster with looting and such. I'm not sure how the National Guard can get away with it and the average Joe cannot.

 

[Rara Avis]

I'm not "doing nothing" out of fear. More a case of knowing the futility of escalating an issue that may just be going away on it's own. Another wise man once said, "Discretion is the better part of valor". If I had iron clad evidence, or the willingness of the police to take up my cause, or even the thought of the problem continuing, I'd be front and center, going after the problem. But what is now only an irritating situation could just as easily become a full blown legal Pandora's Box. At that point, this kid went from making me mad to costing me time and money, all the while, I can't gain anything and will most likely lose something.

In past generations, parents took responsibility for the actions of their kids. Times have changed.

You've got a real handle on reality...(and probably the best course of action for the situation)...Glad to hear the U-Haul showed up...

 

[garth466]

Many state do allow use of firearms to defend your property (used to be all). You shouldn't need a concealed weapons permit on your own property and really the permit is only for hiding your weapon.

I've been lucky that I haven't ever had problems like mentioned above. I'm so lax, it may only be a matter of time. I rarely lock anything, but after meeting a few of my new neighbors I found out who to look out for. Apparently if something is missing, this punk is probably responsible. I may have to train myself to use locks (at least close the garage door when I leave).

Sometimes it's a good idea to to make pals with your local law enforcement. I called a buddy of mine who doesn't mind arresting bad guys (he actually knew who the guy was). I was in luck as this cat has 3 warrants. Too bad the bad boy wasn't there today, but I'll just keep an eye out for him.

Sometimes it is who you know to make your priority move a little higher. Unfortunately most law enforcement agencies are stretched so thin and are too busy to deal with everything that everyone wants them to.

 

[RichNJKubota]

I just set up a motion detecting camera at my place. I bought a Philips USB webcam camera from WalMart. It was good at low light levels and set it up in the kitchen. Found freeware software on the web called Webcam Publisher. It was a bit of a pain to set up and configure the software but it works real good. Any motion and it snaps a picture. The software from Philips also has motion detection options but it did not have any way to adjust sensitivity levels like the Webcam Publisher.
If I were to set up a camera for use outdoors I'd get one of the cameras with built in infra red LEDS to see in the dark