DANGEROUS TEEN CRIMINAL NEIGHBOR
Dear EU,
After watching a program on "Enraged Killers" and noting the warning signs, I have decided to put my worried thoughts in writing
A few years back a new family moved to our neighborhood. They have a troubled son, who was put in a juvenile detention center for one year for many burglaries. He has since returned home and is now 18 years old. We have had problems only with his excessive speed driving in our neighborhood. We have young children and no sidewalks on our street. We are concerned that something awful could happen.
Recently this boy decided to take his car on a joy ride through the neighborhood. He started off by doing doughnuts in his own parent's front yard. Then drove into the yard of his neighbor's. From this yard he sped backward across the road and continued backward into another neighbor's property coming within feet of landing in their pool. From there he went out of their yard and sped down the road toward our house. He locked up the emergency brake and did a complete 180 and ended up in the edge of our yard.
Two separate neighbors (both males) that live across the street from me witnessed what he had done and ran after his car. When they caught up to him, he verbally threatened to beat up one or both of them. When the boy noticed that the one neighbor was using his cell phone to call the police he settled down and just wanted to talk. Without ever talking to the neighbors, he got back in his car and took off.
The police arrived and took the information from the neighbors. The police were not able to locate the boy and the parents were not home at the time for the police to talk with them. The two neighbors have pressed charges. Shortly after the joy ride the parents must have found out what had happened. Since that day (going on three weeks) his car has remained parked in his parents driveway. Now his friends take him everywhere. His friends have no concern for the neighborhood. They speed up and down the rode just the same.
I have seen for myself this same boy yell obscenities out the window to one of the neighbors who pressed charges. Everyday I wonder about him. I am concerned for him, his parents, my neighbors, myself, my husband and most importantly my children. If the parents know exactly what happened that day, the boy has not been made to apologize to these neighbors. The parents seem to be upstanding people, but maybe they are afraid of their child. I wonder if he is a loaded weapon waiting to blow. I wonder what his parents are doing to get him on the right path. I stay out of the way for the sake of my young children because I don't want him taking his rage out on our family. In my heart I know that someone needs to step up to the plate to make sure we are all taken care of, including this child. My question for you, is who should be doing this and how does it need to happen? Thanks you in advance for your time and your response. Having someone like you to talk helps to make this world a better place.
Sincerely,
Concerned Neighbor
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Concerned Neighbor,
Let put things in perspective. There is a difference between foolish behavior of young teenagers that can be off set with an apology, and dangerous conduct of criminal minded young adults. Don't look to his parents for help. They know what he is and accept the status quo. Concern for this miscreant and his family is high-minded but runs a very distant second to the safety of your children, your person, your home, and neighborhood security.
Staying "out of the way" probably accomplishes nothing. Your young criminal does not seem to target anyone in particular, rather exposes everyone to his recklessness. You and your children are random victims in waiting.
" Bad people win, when good people stand by and do nothing."
Time to chose. Do something or stand by. If you are not up for the fight - move. Remove your family from an immediate danger. If you are going to fight, fight to win! One 18-year-old bully is no match for a block full of spirited mama and papa bears protecting their cubs.
Join forces with the neighbors that have signed complaints and enlist all others. File legal complaints for criminal court and property damage claims for civil court. Get the neighbors together and act in concert. An attorney should be employed to orchestrate for maximum impact.
Contact an elected official directly. Nothing shakes them up more than a gathering on the municipal doorstep. Petition for additional police protection. Have all the neighbors apply en masse for gun permits on the grounds that you have been threaten by a young criminal a few houses away. That is exactly the type of citizen action that gets TV coverage.
Call your local newspaper, radio and TV station. Notify them in advance of your community action. Bring a coordinated effort that will hang civil action, damages, legal action, fines, and incarceration over his head. If that does not open his eyes he may require a straight jacket.
Everybody's Uncle
Great topic for the show. Call in Sat. morning 10:30 noon. 973-267-WMTR (9687)
