We have problems with our neighbours. Any advice?

The lady next door and her now ex husband adopted 3 children about 6 years ago. The little girls are lovely but the boy who is now 14 is a BIG problem. He has many behavioral problems, doesn't attend school and has increasingly started to cause us problems. He has broken all the glass in our garden shed twice now, he climbs onto our roof, comes into our garden and steals to name a few. All minor incident i know but they are very upsetting especially for my 77 year old grandmother who I live with.



This evening the woman came round to tell us that the boy had earlier today got into our garden with some petrol and a lighter and tried to burn down a huge bush. Once the bush was alight, he got scared and called another neighbour to put the fire out. The fire was tiny, in fact we probably would never of known if she hadnt told us.



We told her if he does anything else we will call the police but she is at her wits end. Is it worth telling the police or is it too minor for them to care?

We have problems with our neighbours. Any advice?
Def. call the police. This kid is out of control and if the parents will not control him, the police will. I would also be suing the family for damage he causes. You may even want to get ome sort of order of protection ordering him to stay off your property. If he comes on, he gets arrested.

What he is doing is very serious and can kill people.

Stealing and arson are NOT minor offenses. If the parents won't control their child, its up to you to do something for the safety of your family and others. This will not stop and he will keep pushing the boundaries until something horrible happens.
Reply:I recomend a cattle prod.
Reply:Call the police. This child needs help and they are apparently not taking it seriously enough to get that help.



I would definitely call the police, before he hurts someone. What if it were the house he sets fire to next time. Get it stopped now.
Reply:I'd definitely call the police the next time the kid does anything wrong. It sounds like the parents are too lax on this kid - police intervention (tough love) is the only way he can be helped.
Reply:This reminds me of something that I've been thinking about during this election season.



"Seize the day!" as I've coined it. Tell the police, get a file on record so there is some kind of history but try taking matters into your own hands. Ask the neighbor if she could use some help - raising a teenager son - much less by yourself, is not easy. Call him on the things you see him do and let him know that you know it's him. Maybe he feels alone - divorced and adopted...talk about identity crisis!



I know that does not excuse his behavior or make your grandmother feel better but confront him, confront the mom (professionally or civily or whatever) and see what happens. I'm sure you are not the only one that is having problems with this kid.



Why isn't he in school? Is mom working hard to pay bills and just can't keep track of him or has she given up? Truency in itself is a crime and he can go to juvenile jail for that.



Just some ideas from someone who is ready to get her hands dirty but doesn't know where to start. Good luck!
Reply:get one of the neoghboorhood kids to kick his a**, apparently he has no respect for adults, but a good lumpin from someone on his own playing field might knock some sense into him.
Reply:Well, when I lived with my parents I could not stand the stupid neighbours either! The kids would jump the fence and swim in our pool and mess with our stuff, feed the dog who knows what, throw trash over the fence. One time when the family went on vacation the boy was messing with a match and some tank thing with like gasoline. He actually tried to set our house on fire!! I really hate them! Just thinking about them UGH! But anyways, I always wanted to call the police or something, but my parents are the kind of ppl who don't want to get 'involved'. But if it was up to me I would...
Reply:I recomend a tazer.
Reply:Call the police, he is an unruly juvenile and can be charged in juvenile court. OR he will continue to torment you for the next 4 years until he is an adult an ends up in jail.
Reply:Well, it is your decision. I do not blame you for wanting to call the cops. Try talking to the parent one last time, have the boy included in the conversation and have a private conversation with him also, if you can. Try not to seem too frustrated,the boy might like it and attempt to do more.
Reply:call child services file charges enjoy the peace and quiet , stay cool do not use force on him , it will have you facing 5 years probation with luck .
Reply:If you do call the police make sure you have proof. Police hate dealing with problems like this, so if don't have proof they will not listen to you.