I hate feeling uneasy in my own home.

We have had some problems with our neighbor to the south for a little while. The oldest son has some friends who are less than desirable, i.e., gangbangers. We had our house broken into several months ago and we have always had some suspicions that some of those guys may have been involved. Several times I have found trash in my yard from when they hang out next door. We have had things stolen from our front yard when we have forgotten to bring them in. Things like coolers, a scooter, etc. This doesn't happen often but it still ticks me off, of course.

Well tonight was just too much. I was woken around 1am by one of their cars going by with the bass turned up as high as it will go. I decided to keep an eye on what they were doing. I opened my living room blinds but kept the lights off inside so that they wouldn't know I was there. I watched a couple guys walk over to my yard and then walk back, but they stopped where they were blocked from view by the large tree next to the sidewalk so I couldn't tell what they were doing. Then I saw one guy walk over with a large bottle in his hand and walk back without it. They were throwing their beer bottles and trash in my front garden! I took one of the dogs with me and went out to tell them to pick up their trash. Of course they tried playing innocent at first but I was ticked and not going to let them get away with it. I admit I swore at them several times but they finally did pick up their trash. One guy kept mouthing off and told me he would clean my whole yard if I asked him nicely. He said he would clean me and my dog too. That's when I went and woke my husband. He went out and talked to the kid who lives there. After a minute, the Mom came out. We told them we don't mind if they hang out there but that we are sick and tired of cleaning up after them. The mouthy kid came back and was trying to act like was just being a boyscout in offering to help clean up; yeah right.

So anyway, now I am back inside and worried about going to sleep in case they decide to retaliate in some way. My husband is online looking up camera systems so we can put one in asap. Our neighborhood would be perfectly fine if it weren't for the friends that hang out next door but they are enough to make me uneasy in my own house. That sucks.