I really hate my neighbors, part deux.

[Chartreuse]

Further complaining about my neighbor family from hell...

Despite the fact that hubby and I are not Christian, we do put up holiday lights.  We're festive people.

So, I'm sitting here in the front office, which overlooks the front yard with our lights.  A couple of the classic neighbors' kids, the youngest members of the brood I was complaining about earlier, (about seven or eight years old) just came sneaking up our driveway, onto our porch and attempted to steal a couple of the lights out of our strands.  I just got to sit and watch for a few minutes, knocked on the window to let them know I was watching them, and they took off.  Nice kids.   

[andi]

i wonder if they're related to the older kids that shaving creamed me and my toddler on Halloween?

[Chartreuse]

I wish we could make an island somewhere and dump these kinds of families on it away from everyone else.     Shaving creaming an adult and toddler... that's just beyond words.

So, hubby went over to have a little chat with the mother.  Supposedly the dynamic duo's "in trouble", but we've never seen them ever really watched so we'll see if this changes anything.  Both kids were busted with a handful of lights, stolen from other homes around the neighborhood.  Mother is nice, but man... we wish "nice" would get translated into "paying attention to kids".

They're eightish.  When did kids that age suddenly start pulling this kind of crap?  It's bad enough when it's older kids, but this is not good.

[EvilAlice]

They're eightish.  When did kids that age suddenly start pulling this kind of crap?

My brother did that once, at about that age.  My parents went with him to the house to make him apologize and return the lights.  Then they made him go back after Christmas and help the man take down all the lights and put them away. He's 45 and still remembers it.

[dawbs]

I"m a Grinch, but since this is an ongoing pattern of behavior, I think I'd contact the police.  Because what you witnessed was vandalism and/or theft.
And if you want the police to actually DO something in the future, starting a paper trail NOW is the way to go.

[MadMadge43]

Did these kids have thier own lights? Or were they pilfering from the neighbors so they could put up their own. Parents sound like they might not get around to it.

If they were doing it just to steal, then I would throw a fit. If they were doing it because it was the only way they'd get lights I might have some sympathy.

[ZipTheWonder]

Am I reading that right?  You're sympathetic to them thieving from the OP if she has something they don't have and don't need...but that they want? 

[MadMadge43]

I am sympathetic to 8 year olds that want to celebrate Christmas like the rest of their friends do. Not saying they are in the right by any means. And they need to be taught a lesson, but yes, I do feel if they just wanted to make their house pretty too, so Santa would find them or whatever is way different than kids that just wanted to steal from others and go smash up lights in the alley.

[Alida]

Do the parents of these children even know the word discipline?

[Rose2Bear]

I doubt if they were just stealing a few light bulbs out of the strand they were doing it so they could string up their own lites... If they were stealing the whole strand, maybe I could see the possibility they were stealing so they could do their own decorating... although even if thats the case its not excusable... but by just stealing a few lightbulbs (which is what I interpreted the OP to be saying) it sounded like they were being vicious and probably hoping it was one of those strands where when one bulb is missing the whole string goes out.

[MadMadge43]

I doubt if they were just stealing a few light bulbs out of the strand they were doing it so they could string up their own lites... If they were stealing the whole strand, maybe I could see the possibility they were stealing so they could do their own decorating... although even if thats the case its not excusable... but by just stealing a few lightbulbs (which is what I interpreted the OP to be saying) it sounded like they were being vicious and probably hoping it was one of those strands where when one bulb is missing the whole string goes out.

You are absolutely right! I read that they were stealing strands, missed the part about them stealing lightbulbs out of the strands. That just makes them nasty little children!

[fklwmn]

i wonder if they're related to the older kids that shaving creamed me and my toddler on Halloween?

CRUD MONKEYS!! Did you snatch them up by their ears and drag themhome to their parents? B/c I SO would have... even if I had to chase them down.

[Chartreuse]

Slight clarification, it was just bulbs.  We are keeping a written documentation of things, and if anything else occurs, the boys in blue will be called.

My brother did that once, at about that age.  My parents went with him to the house to make him apologize and return the lights.  Then they made him go back after Christmas and help the man take down all the lights and put them away. He's 45 and still remembers it.

I appreciate your parents.  There needs to be more of that kind of parenting.  I would HOPE that my neighbor hauled the dynamic duo off to the other homes that they hit, but again, I doubt it. 

[BurninDinner]

I think given the age there might be some confusion on the kids' part about "right" versus "wrong."  I am NOT condoning the behavior, but I don't think they were being malicious.  They probably didn't think it through and thought it was funny.

[andi]

i wonder if they're related to the older kids that shaving creamed me and my toddler on Halloween?

CRUD MONKEYS!! Did you snatch them up by their ears and drag themhome to their parents? B/c I SO would have... even if I had to chase them down.

not to divert the original post - but my hubby went after them as they scattered.  he chased the one down till they hit the park the the little bugger disappered in the dark.