Shock and awe

[craigh]

I had a large group of kids come by my light display Friday night and was shocked at their behavior.
There was a car that had its lights on and had their radio blasting some other music than mine, and the girls were dancing in front of this car like a bunch of hoochies!
Later my son caught some other girls doing nasty dancing with my Nativity characters, disgusting!
This crowd of kids was getting out of hand, almost had to call the cops.
I have problems in previous years with smaller groups of kids, but never like this, I almost had to shut my show down.
I just don't get why they would act this way, its a Christmas display, not a strip joint or a night club! I do live in Las Vegas, but that is still no excuse for acting the way they did at a Christmas light display.

[Brian Mitchell]

I think if you had shut the display down on them, it probably would have invited som after hours vandalism. It would be better to have the cops talk to them because then they would know eyes are on them and they would be at the top of the suspect list is something happened.

[craigh]

You are probably right, let the Cops handle it.
My neighbor has a son-in-law who is a cop, we have talked with him and he is adding us to their list of streets to patrol.

[beeiilll]

I have to agree with Brian on this.

Maybe you could call the police and tell them the story and ask if they wouldn't mind an extra drive by every once in awhile.

I'd say you could try and do something extra for the police for doing it like free coffee and some cookies but it would depend on how the officers out there are towards things like that. It never hurts to ask anyway.

[-klb-]

I would recommend having your police department non emergency dispatch number ready at hand. If you have it ready, you won't waste time looking it up, or debating if something is worth calling 911. At least here, all that is different when they first answer is the order that calls are answered in the unusual case that they have calls holding. As they gather information, they will evaluate it agains that else is going on.

If it is a slow night, they may be able to send someone by. If it is busy, they may be able to note your area for extra patrol once things slow down. You and I won't know what they have resources for on a given night untill you call. On a slow night, they may welcome something to do. Especially the younger officers who have not learned to appreciate everything being quiet, and need something to do to stay awake, and keep the 12 hour shift moving.

[Ed Slonka Jr]

I work in a school district here in PA and see stupid stuff all the time.

Most kids nowadays (but not all) lack respect for a lot of things including other peoples property but especially themselves!!!

[texascop]

It's always best to let the police handle it. Especially if you are dealing with juveniles. You could wind up in trouble. Not fair, I know, just cold, hard facts when you deal with "innocent children" under the age of 17 (in Texas) that usually have a record a mile long and no respect for anyone. They just don't know better and you hurt their feelings or touched them on the arm or told them "no".

[craigh]

I was so shocked at their behavior I didn't know what to do, at the moment I wanted them to leave!
I think Ed hit the nail on the head they lack the respect for themselves and therefor don't respect others either.

I only hope they don't come back! it ruins the show for everyone else.

[btoerck]

I have to go with earlier comments about letting the cops handle it. I am also a Texas cop but not the same cop as texascop. Let us deal with it, not only will we deal with the juvenile turds I know I would start doing extra patrols there. Not just because of hte turds but also because I like to see the lights.

[craigh]

I wish I lived in Texas where you guys patrol!!!
Thanks for the good advice, it is always best to let law enforcement handle these situations, especially with the youth.

I guess I can put all my guns away now.....lol

[btoerck]

nobody said you had to put your guns away. Just dont shoot the cops.

Those kids would get a nice disorderly conduct here for pulling that crap then you could criminal trespass all of them and when they come back then they get a free ride to jail.

And yeah I'm one of those young cops that appreciates a quiet night but I also like nights when i have plenty to keep me busy. busy makes the nights go fast.

[Bubba in NV]

Speaking as a recently retired cop.... keep a good video camera handy at all times. Invest in a cheap outdoor monitoring system, you can get them for less than 50 bucks now days, and use a spare vhs recorder.

Post some "video cameras on premises" signs. Put a fake camera in plain sight.

ALWAYS call the cops.... we don't like to hear about 3 days later... it is always easier when everyone is standing there. Then we can give them the talk about if anything happens to the house we will go get them first...

Just a suggestion.... it worked for over 26 years here...

[doug petschke]

In the sticks where i live ....by the time the county sherriff gets here. I would not have the patience to wait so long that is why I just put a sign out SECURITY BY SMITH AND WESSON. They would get the picture, but really i dont have that problem I dont have a display that draws a crowd except the occasional cat dog or mischeivious cow. It really sucks to have reckless people that ruin the fun for others. The cops is the right answer, besides they do training for this sort of thing.

[Steve Constantino]

craigh wrote:

I had a large group of kids come by my light display Friday night and was shocked at their behavior.
There was a car that had its lights on and had their radio blasting some other music than mine, and the girls were dancing in front of this car like a bunch of hoochies!
Later my son caught some other girls doing nasty dancing with my Nativity characters, disgusting!
This crowd of kids was getting out of hand, almost had to call the cops.
I have problems in previous years with smaller groups of kids, but never like this, I almost had to shut my show down.
I just don't get why they would act this way, its a Christmas display, not a strip joint or a night club! I do live in Las Vegas, but that is still no excuse for acting the way they did at a Christmas light display.

What part of Vegas do you live in? I use to live in Vegas. I lived in North Las Vegas off Craig road for 4 years. I only had problems with little kids. They wanted to touch every thing and run and play in the display. The thing that I was shocked about was the parents were just watching like it was no big deal. I went out and talked to them many of times. I told them all the normal stuff, safety and I didn't want any one to get heart. Well this went on for a week or two then I had to call the cops. They took care of it. I never had a problem since.


Steve

[craigh]

I live in the Northwest part of Las Vegas (off Craig Road, west of 95).

I have contacted the police and I am on their patrol. This past week I had found one girl standing in my driveway, doing some sort of a pose, when I asked her what she was doing in my yard she just simple said "oh I am having my picture taken with your lights". I explained to her that it was not safe to come up into the yard and asked her to please leave, which she did. No problems with kids this weekend.
I have added a spot that lists the "rules" for enjoying the lights safely, which includes - staying in your car, don't come up into the yard, and don't stop in the middle of the street (had a fender bender this past week because someone stopped in the middle of the street and turned their lights off!! - I don't have street lights on my street).


Craig