Witnessed A Vandalism CLOSE-UP (UPDATE Post# 116)

[citychickx6]

I admit I did not read all of the postings on this thread. I wanted to let you know what one of my old neighbors did to stop losing their mailboxes. They took one of the really big metal ones and packed concrete around a smaller one inside it. I think they mounted it to a piece of railroad tie sunk in the ground really deep. When our friendly neighborhood kids struck again theirs was the only one still standing. There were marks from the attempt and broken glass on the ground in the street. I am pretty sure they did a drive by with someone holding a bat out the window. Our street was never hit again while I lived out there.
Just a thought ... A broken arm is a pretty good teacher.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Letting the 18 year olds off without pressing charges is a slap on the wrist. And to say that they are "good kids" who have never been caught before.... big deal! We're talking about the here and now and the crime that was committed. They need to be held accountable for what they did. If they truly are such good kids and this is their first offense then maybe they will get a brain and straighten up! Kids start getting into trouble and it escalates simply because of all the excuses that get thrown out for why they shouldn't be punished: they're young, they didn't know better (give me a break) they're good kids etc. etc. etc.

As for the 14 year old. I'd still press charges if they'll be lesser charges. His behavior still needs to be nipped in the bud in no uncertain terms.

I have two boys. The oldest is 17 and I can assure you he has known the difference between right and wrong for many, many years! If he went out and did something so stupid I would not stand in the way of whatever punishment came his way and he knows it. I am a firm believer in you reap what you sow.

 

[onthespot]

Yah, too bad we can't just break these four kids' arms and be done with it.

Seriously. 18 is 18. Down they go. x2 what redhen and Boyd say.

It takes a village to protect a village from village idiots. Don't create four more of them.

 

[Zinnia-Hen]

What little brats.

 

[MysticScorpio82]

If they were all 14 I would probably have let it slide with an apology and having them replace my mailbox; HOWEVER all were 18 years old (except one), they should KNOW better. Personally I would want charges pressed against the older ones, but LauraJean you are the one that lives in the town so I think you should do what you feel is best.

I am glad you are ok!! I am interested to hear what ended up happening (whether they were charged or not)

 

[Dunkopf]

I agree with all the people that feel you should ruin their lives. Have them charged and serve some time. After all it has been proven that the more time you serve in prison the better you become as a citizen. Might as well get them started out on the right foot. We don't have enough people in our jails. When they can't get into school or get a decent job because they got charged with a felony for a petty act of vandalism they w ill resort to holding up convenience stores.

Teaching a lesson is always the best thing to do. JMO of course. I could be full of you know what though.

 

[PotterWatch]

Quote:
So what would you suggest since you don't think they should be made accountable for their actions?


ETA: I don't think anyone has suggested that they should serve prison time but of course I may have missed that. I think that the vast majority of people have simply indicated that there needs to be more severe consequence than simply replacing what they destroyed. Most people have said that community service would be the best thing. I honestly don't think that even if they were arrested for their crime (and yes, it was a crime), that they would truly be charged and convicted of a felony. I imagine lesser charges would be brought and they would have to do some community service.

 

[Dunkopf]

Community time has been suggested but it sounds like they want more blood than that. I think the problem is, that it is a federal crime. I doubt that the judge has the option of saying 100 hours of picking up trash on the roadside. It would also be a felony.

I think the parents could make them do some work for the people who's mailboxes they destroyed. Of course since they are 18 they could say stuff it. The 18 year olds are stupid to be doing stuff like that. I did some vandalism as a kid as did most kids. However when I was 18 I knew I could actually screw my life up doing it and I stopped. I had also outgrown vandalism. Still did plenty of other stupid stuff but realized by then that I was destroying peoples property and it was wrong. Might be because I was on my own and realized the value of a dollar a little more.

Sounds like they still live at home and the parents should do something a little more severe. having a felony on your record pretty much destroys your life and guarantees you won't be too successful no matter how motivated or gifted you are.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Dun, I bet those kids wont see ANY jail time for this.
But they will get a record and maybe some probation and community service...etc...
It will be a good REAL life lesson that if you break the LAW, you have to deal with the LAW... not just mommy and daddy..

Just my opinion..

 

[Dunkopf]

Quote:
Dun, I bet those kids wont see ANY jail time for this.
But they will get a record and maybe some probation and community service...etc...
It will be a good REAL life lesson that if you break the LAW, you have to deal with the LAW... not just mommy and daddy..

Just my opinion..

But what if it's charged as a felony? Having a felony on your record automatically disqualifies you for a ton of jobs as well as financial aid for school and stuff like that. Their parents would probably have to spend a ton in court defending them. All because they knocked down some mailboxes.

Now if Laura would have popped up and said boo to these kids and they would have started hitting her instead of the mailboxes, then yeah. Throw the book at them and hope they get at least 15 years or so before they can try to get probation. How many people o here have thrown eggs at a car? Did you know that ruins the paint it hits? That's a lot more expensive than some mail boxes that are worth 50.00 each, if that much. They were bored to death kids. Vandalism of that kind is done when you are really bored. Keying a car is done for revenge or to cause costly damage because someone has a car you could never afford.

I just don't think beating up a mailbox is worth having a felony on your record.