Why do teenagers behave this way?

Last Saturday, a kid, about 17 or 18 years old, was going door to door to sell a magazine subscription, one of the phony con things. I was across the street at the mail box when he confronted me asking me if I was nice or mean? A strange way to greet people. The short version of the conversation with the obnoxious kid is that among other things, I told him I was not interested in what he was selling. He then went to to my neighbor's house across the street where the husband was working in his garage. He also told the kid to get lost. He then proceeded to go to other houses. My next door neighbor, told me that the kid harassed her because she wouldn't open her glass storm door to talk to him.

Then, the kid came to my house, by which time I had come home and was in my front office at my computer. He rang my doorbell and I didn't answer it because he was so obnoxious. Then he came and stood in front of my window yelling at me as to why I didn't answer the door. I repeated that I was not interested. He persisted in arguing with me. Finally, I made the mistake of telling him to get off my property. He said No! you going to make me? I repeated two more times for him to get off my property. Finally he walked away cursing, and calling me an old hag.

A little later, I talked to my neighbor and told him I was concerned that this kid was nuts enough to do something to my home or my dogs.

On Monday afternoon, about 3:30, I suddenly heard a loud crash of breaking glass. Fortunately, about ten minutes before, I had put the dogs outside in the back yard. Dolly and Madison usually sit on the window perch I made for them so they could see the neighborhood. If they had been in their usual spot, they would have been seriously cut by the falling glass. The blow was so hard the glass was thrown clear across the room and into the hall. I couldn't find a rock or anything so I assume they used a bat or something to be able to swing so high and so hard.

I called the police and the officer took the report and said not much could be done as I didn't see them actually break the window. But if the kid ever came back on my property, he could be arrested and charged with trespass because I had ordered him to stay off my property.

Then I went out to the side street to ask some of my neighbors who were in their front yards if they had seen anyone running from my house. Two people that I talked to said they saw three kids, a girl and two boys. They described them and their clothes, and the three different directions they were running. I recognized the description of the obnoxious kid but the others were unknown to me.

Then I called my son for help. He drove the twenty miles, but called me from his car and I told him what I had learned from the neighbors. Before he got to my house, he drove through the apartment complex about four blocks from my house and saw three kids standing outside talking and laughing. He wrote down the unit number and then came to my house. He and I got in my car and again drove to the unit where my son had seen the kids. They were still there, but it was getting dark and hard to tell if it was them. But one of the kids had black hair, a black goatee and wearing a black jacket as described by my neighbors. The girls also resembled their description. The other kid had his blue jacket hood over his head and I couldn't see his face, but his over weight build resembled the obnoxious kid.

My son then taped cardboard over the broken part of the window and worked for nearly an hour to pick up all of the broken glass. Then he surveyed all my windows to be sure they were all locked. My son is also looking for a window replacement person to replace my window glass. At least the frame is intact so only the glass needs replacement.

My son was really angry and wanted to confront the kids. The guys he works with were all ready to come down and confront kids. I pleaded with my son not to get involved and promised I would call my retired police captain friend. My friend recommended a local security service operated by retired police officers, who will come to my house next Tuesday.

My friend also referred me to the police captain for my area, who is a personal friend of his. I thought the best punishment and lesson for these kids is to have them and their families evicted from their apartments for their bad behavior and harassment of the neighborhood. My friend agreed and said they've probably done other vandalism besides what they did to me.

I have wonderful neighbors who really look out for me. Even the teenagers came to talk to me to see if they recognized any of the three kids who vandalized my home. Everyone was so kind.

The scariest thing about this episode is how close my dogs came to being injured. That's what shook me up the most.

Life continues to be interesting.

BBB