hilda-and-evadne Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 The boy could have acted on impulse, not thinking about the impact of his behaviour. Teenagers are not great on impulse control! I think it's obvious from the original post that the boy's act was premeditated. Perhaps Bobbin's owner (apologies but the name is in the first part of this thread) could invite the boy and his parents to come and see the chickens and pet them if possible. It would be an opportunity to educate the boy about the fact that what he did had an impact on other people. Sometimes people (especially those with a background of neglect) have no idea. I'd be worried that he'd hurt the chickens. Anyway, this looks like rewarding him for attempting to steal. If it does become a legal matter, I would hope that your local constabulary or court would see this as an appropriate case for "restorative justice" which is simply a matter of the guilty party having to meet with the victim(s), hear their distress and do something to express their remorse. This approach not only can prevent children becoming criminalised, it is also much more beneficial to the victims themselves. I really think that the "approach" is up to the parties involved. You don't know if this boy has a record of petty pilfering, trespass and cruelty to animals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 I'm afraid I disagree with abbey road girls me? I'd put carpet gripper along the top of all my fences for a start. Then I'd be popping round for a chat with his mum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsy Posted April 16, 2008 Author Share Posted April 16, 2008 I won't be inviting them round. No chance of that. I'm not against restorative justice if it does seem genuine but at this point I doubt that's going to happen. In my opinion that should have started lastnight when I knocked on the door, or even today, should they not have brought him to apologise? I think so. I'm dreading tonight, have stayed in all day with them. I don't even know if the police have spoke to him yet, when I rang this afternoon they were still waiting for it to be passed to day staff or something.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Oh Strepsy, I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this and all the stress and worry it is causing you. It must be horrible. Thinking of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 how awful, just to be on the safe side i will put a paslock on mine tomorrow, shouldn't have to but its the way of things now, you have it, someone else wants it, they take it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 How dreadful, I hope you and your family are getting over the shock of this awful experience. I would start building a nice big padlocked walk in run, and maybe ask the local crime prevention officer to visit your garden and advise on legal ways to make your garden and home safe. On the other hand, it would be brambles and nice glass coldframes at the bottom of the garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Im appalled that a teenage boy can assume he can take whatever he feels and his parents have no intrest in him.Good luck in pursuing this through the court because he needs taking down a peg or two. If your fences arent very tall-think about adding trellis or nail carpet grippers to the tops which will make it very uncomfortable for someone to climb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Im appalled that a teenage boy can assume he can take whatever he feels and his parents have no intrest in him.Good luck in pursuing this through the court because he needs taking down a peg or two. This is what I thought when I read this. Mirkwood makes a similar point. It's the mentality - I want it, I'm going to take it. It sounds premeditated, but not very well thought through. My parents would have given me a rollicking if I'd done something like this. So sorry this has happened to you and causing you so much stress. Glad you got Bobbins back safely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 but I have just sat here reading your post, literally with an open mouth. That's exactly what I did . What on earth was he planning to do with Bobbins . He obviously just left her outside the house so what on earth was the point of taking her . Makes you wonder if he saw a camera or Playstation through someone's window, would he think "I'd like that" and just break in and steal it . Not knowing all the background facts, I would be inclined to say he and his parents should be made to face the consequences. I'm so glad you got her back safe and sound. You must be worried sick but I don't imagine he'd try the same trick twice (especially if the police have been involved). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 How's things this morning Strepsy? I hope you had a quiet evening and are feeling less stressed this morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 If your fences arent very tall-think about adding trellis or nail carpet grippers to the tops which will make it very uncomfortable for someone to climb. Trellis would be good but you may find you come unstuck if you put anything nasty on the top of it.................. but it would be perfectly OK to put electric fence around your hens......... to keep foxes away of course ..... and then a security camera could provide some interesting footage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 **Prikka Strip** would be better than carpet gripper insofar as you wouldn't have the Elfnsafety lot after you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsy Posted April 17, 2008 Author Share Posted April 17, 2008 How's things this morning Strepsy? I hope you had a quiet evening and are feeling less stressed this morning. Yes, all quiet thanks. Girlies happy and lining up for the nestbox as I type. I felt better lastnight after hubby and I made a thong-shaped contraption out of chain over the Eglu to fit round the nextbox door and also attached to the run so that there's no way it could be wiggled down to leave the door free. Pretty it's not but they're safe, and I padlocked the run too. I really appreciate all the support on this thread, it's been lovely to read it, I knew you'd all understand how I feel about my chookies, even after only 4 weeks. Regards the fence access, I will definitely look into that but I have 2 cats so I think some of the things I won't be able to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 What about a big thorny bush? There's a good review of pyracantha shrubs here: http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/plants/pyracantha/1003352/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 I was horrified when I read about Bobbin's story. How awful for you, Strepsy. *hugs* I have my girls in their eglu within a walk-in run now and I bolt it shut every night and padlock it too. We have a lot of "youth crime" in this area, so I'm just taking precautions, but I've never had anyone try to take any of my girls (apart from Mr. Fox). Do keep us posted with the outcome of any police investigations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strepsy Posted April 17, 2008 Author Share Posted April 17, 2008 superjules, thanks for that, that sounds absolutely perfect and good for wildlife too. Wish I'd read this before I went to the garden centre! lol. I'll have to move my compost bins from next to the fence, will have a look how to work it later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 **Prikka Strip** would be better than carpet gripper insofar as you wouldn't have the Elfnsafety lot after you. Yes, but I don't like the sound of the "minimum harm" part! I'm sorry, but I don't handle these situations very well. In my past experience the police have been completely useless and are only really willing to offer a crime reference number (in other words log it, but do nothing about it). Plus if any punishment is dished out by this state, it never fits the crime! I would be absolutely fuming and not responsible for my actions i'm afraid, no matter what the age or sex of the offender! And I would do everything in my power to prevent the situation occuring again... People should learn to respect other peoples private property and possessions or suffer the consequences! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Plus someone with that mentality wouldn't be bothered if they had a criminal record as they probably have no intention of working either! They should have been drowned at birth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17038&highlight= Similarish incident for us...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 [I would be absolutely fuming and not responsible for my actions i'm afraid, no matter what the age or sex of the offender! And I would do everything in my power to prevent the situation occuring again... People should learn to respect other peoples private property and possessions or suffer the consequences! These matters understandably stir up passionate feelings but I personally don't feel that we should be encouraging people down routes of retaliation that might put them on the wrong side of the law, and possibly facing penalties themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twix Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 wow that's really shocking.. but also it is quite an unusual kind of disturbance from a teenage boy these days no? what he did was illegal- no doubt and irresponsible-debateably to the point of cruelty but i do wonder what was going on in his mind. it wouldn't make it ok to do it anyway, but it all sounds a bit odd to me. you said he kept staring and it scared your daughter. that does not sound like normal behaviour. i think your daughter's instincts here was very much to the point. and so impulsive-he didn't even have anywhere to put the poor thing. i think perhaps this boy needs some psychological support? if there is something going on there i do hope the police pick up on it -especially with the unusual family circumstances-and put him in touch with the appropriate support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 (edited) I would be absolutely fuming and not responsible for my actions i'm afraid, no matter what the age or sex of the offender! And I would do everything in my power to prevent the situation occuring again... People should learn to respect other peoples private property and possessions or suffer the consequences! These matters understandably stir up passionate feelings but I personally don't feel that we should be encouraging people down routes of retaliation that might put them on the wrong side of the law, and possibly facing penalties themselves. Don't know what has happened here. Edited April 17, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 If your fences arent very tall-think about adding trellis or nail carpet grippers to the tops which will make it very uncomfortable for someone to climb. Trellis would be good but you may find you come unstuck if you put anything nasty on the top of it.................. but it would be perfectly OK to put electric fence around your hens......... to keep foxes away of course ..... and then a security camera could provide some interesting footage Theres a method to my madness! The carpet grippers will draw blood should anyone dare climb and then you can give a sample of it to the rozzers as evidence! A more natural route though is to plant Berberis-this is literally a living razor wire fence...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FORENSICA Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Poor Strepsy! This is just shocking I can only imagine how you must feel. Makes me so angry!!! I would put the spikes on the top of your fence.Blood and DNA from it is a great tool . Put them further from each other so your cats will be unharmed. Hubby just ordered a slingshot against unwanted cat visitors to our garden, but as I see, it might be useful for larger targets if it should come Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixabell Posted April 18, 2008 Share Posted April 18, 2008 I am shocked that someone would attempt to do this but not really too surprised (does that make sense?). In a world where wehave asbo's and where I am afraid to walk the streets at night because of teenage gangs hanging around on corners i personally think they will do anything that excites them, and yes i agree its down to the parents who obviously have not taught the little s*** right from wrong, they proved that when they didn't answer the door. So sorry this happened to you and so relieved you got Bobbins back, I can't imagine the relief when you found her!! I have a wooden hutch and every single door is padlocked but thats for the foxes, i didn't imagine that it might be a security measure against humans too!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
