What would you do if her kids kept ...

Question

My neighbours kids KEEP coming into my backyard to play with my 21 month old daughter's stuff. The kids are a girl 8 and a boy 7. I've told her several times that THEY cannot play in my backyard. My sandbox for my daughter has been destroyed as so have some of her other things and our pool has had to be refilled three times. (It's just a collapsible one.) When I am home, they come around with my dog outside (border collie and pomeranian mix) that is VERY protective of my daughter and would bite them. They taunt the dog and try to touch him so that he snaps at them. I have NEVER invited these kids over and I have never wanted them here. I have asked them to leave the animals alone, I've talked to their obviously dumb parents and I've had the police talk to the parents a few times. My daughter cries because her stuff is 'broken' and I can't stand it anymore. No one in our neighbour hood likes these people and their kids terrorize the other people too. Another thing that upsets me is if our dog (who is ALWAYS on a leash!) bites these kids, even on my property, has to be put down (bylaw!). I live in a neighbour hood that is maintained by police 24/7 and is in a few school districts and is regarded as a really great place to live and hard to get into. My husband is getting sick of talking to these kids parents and so am I! What would you do next?

Answer 1

Get a lawyer.  Or check into what your neighborhood association can do for you - possibly finding an arbitrator for you.  There is definitely something you can do legally.  At the least, keep track of anything they break and start sending bills to them.  Write EVERYTHING down and hire a lawyer or arbitrator.  

Sorry to say, this is probably the only way you can resolve this.  These people obviously have no respect for the rest of the world.

Answer 2

u need to like sue them for all the broken toys!!

Answer 3

biuld a fence or get a lawyer

Answer 4

If the police can't do anything, then put up a fence and post beware of dog and no trespassing signs.  Hopefully that would cover you if they would trespass and get bitten.

Good luck.  I would want to move away from there.

Answer 5

I'd tell them they could come over only if they ask. Limit their time over there. After that, I'd get the police involved. Court is possible but I'd try not to go to that extreme. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Take them to court!   You can sue them for destruction of property (take pictures after they destroy something), make sure you hold onto police reports.Get a video camera and set it up where most of the damage takes place (just make sure it is out of their sight,so they can't destroy that too).      P.S.  (Videos are always the best evidence you could possibly have)  Good Luck to you guys

Answer 7

Honestly, I would buy a 6 ft tall wooden fence, and put a lock on the gate.  It might be costly but it will be worth it in the long run.

Answer 8

Have you got a water hose? Ever considered treating them like animals and hosing them down?

Seriously, you could try calling child protective services and reporting the parents for neglect. If they aren't keeping their kids under control, someone needs to-otherwise they might end up vandalising more than just your daughter's toys.

Answer 9

The police won't do anything?

Take them to court.

Answer 10

Build a fence.

Answer 11

I hate to say it, but a privacy fence and start keeping a record of when they are in your yard and what they are breaking. Take lots of pictures, you may have to contact a lawyer and take the neighbors to small claims court.