Teenage behaviour in 2006

Reflecting on teenage behaviour in recent times, I am saddened by the fact that many parents don't seem to think their children are ever in the wrong and that children as young as ten years old should be free to roam the streets of our towns and cities well into the night.

Over the last few years the following is just a taste of the things which have happened to us and our property:
Bottles smashed onto our roof (Rick was up there vaccuuming the next day!!)
Large rocks thrown onto and over the roof
Car aerials broken off
Petrol syphoned from the car
Condoms on Rick's car under the windscreen wipers
Chocolate milk poured over the car
Rotten eggs thrown at the car
Scratches down the side of the car
Side window of car and front door damaged by a bottle being thrown by a student from a moving vehicle - he was caught and had to pay, no apology
Car damaged at football training - noone owned up
Sprinkler taken
Eggs thrown at house windows/walls - VERY difficult to clean once dried!
Solar light stolen
Cars broken into (in broad daylight - luckily police caught this lot)
Obscenities yelled out in the middle of the night as they pass in cars
Kids throwing rocks in daylight hours - phoned parents who claimed the child was at home - how does this help the child?
Two boys seen urinating on the car outside the yard - total denial, despite involving their parents
Crank phone calls

Then there are the 2 cars Rick has almost had "written off" by drunken drivers (both were caught later), the car which demolished our front yard and landed on the side fence in the middle of the night and the car which hit a tree out the front - head on!!!!

The joys of living on a main thoroughfare and a corner.

We have spent countless hours awake and/or standing out in the cold waiting for the return (which usually happens) of these thoughtless hooligans. Rick has even jumped the fence and chased one who was about to spray paint the fence - he was particularly stupid, since he accounted for his movements in an essay at school the following week - a copy was given to the police.

Most of these "attacks" have been reported to the police but until they actually catch the culprits in the act nothing can or will happen to them. We have a pretty good idea who they are. Fortunately, only the minority of kids behave this way but they make life uncomfortable for many.