Hey Maryland Cops!

[NavyDoc]

I've an arsenal at home, so I'm worried about a confrontation, but
I live in a fairly upper middle clas neighborhood. Homes are about $260,000 on average. I've a couple of ******* living a few doors down. You know the type. All the rapper clothes, flashing "gang sign" the learned off MTV, etc. Never had much trouble until today. They were playing w daddy's Mustang. Pealing out. Zooming up and down the street. Lots of small kids in the neighborhood so I walked into the street, stopped them and chewed them out. Told them to cut it out, there are little kids in the neighborhood, etc. Got a "sir,yes sir" from one of them, and they stopped, but I'm worried. I've expensive cars. I've two small kids, and, as a military Doc, I'm away from home ALOT. Any LEO types in the Maryland area with advice as how to keep these punks in line without endangering my family and property?

Edited by Coronach

 

[Darrin]

I installed a 4 camera security system in a local business a few months ago that records up to a full week on a single VHS tape. The system was just under $1000.00. I think the system came from Sam's Club.

When I buy a house, I plan on installing the same thing. Perhaps something you should consider?

Note: I'm no LEO, therefore, the above is considered IME, IMO, YMMV, etc...

 

[MessedUpMike]

I don't want to sound condesinding but chill......

Most of the MTV "gangstas" are more a case of life imitataing art than the real deal. If they were hard cases you would have been in for it when you told them to slow down. Chances are they the same stupid kids that I was (maybe yourself to) at that age.
If you that worried leave a gun where mama can get a hold of it in a hurry. If your worried about your cars set up a video camera, Md juries don't take to kind to citizens taking pot shots at vandals. But I seriously doubt that anything will come of it. Stupid or not most people will chill out if you talk to them calmly and rationally. As an adult even now, getting a chewing out is more likely to cause me to respond beligerantly than a rational discussion. Like them or not you have to live next to the people so the easier you can make things the better.



260,000 got you in an upper middle class neighborhood in MD? I must have moved to the wrong place........

 

[TheeBadOne]

the Basics

Locked doors, locked garage, and lights lights lights. Put motion lights up high so someone can't just reach up and unscrew them or smash them. Leave them set to stay on for the longest duration when triggered.
I also agree w/what MessedUpMike said.
In the future if you see something that bothers you enough to act, call the local police dept, but be prepared 1st. A "speeding car" complaint is poor into, and a "speeding white car" isn't much better. A "Red Ford Taurus with CA plate 34A567 and 'GTO' in white lettering on the front windsheild" is a much much much better complaint with something that the cops can actually do something with. Also, if it becomes a regular problem (reoccuring) see if there's a pattern. Don't exaggerate when you call in to report speeders. The cops will ask if there's a certain time of day that it's worst. Don't answer "ALL DAY LONG!". Some people do this because they're frustrated but it doesn't help. The cops aren't going to spend all day long at every single intersection in the city (because many other people are calling in saying "ALL DAY LONG"). If you give them good info they not only can do something with it, they won't blow you off as one of the "ALL DAY LONG" callers with useless info (venting is all).

Video cameras Many of the ones you get at Sams's Club and the like are fine for securing areas that are well lit and close, but that's it. The quality will let you know that 2 people walked by, or the car was dark, but not enough to ID the perps unless you are personally familiar with them and can ID a certain characteristic. If you're serious about cameras, talk to a security company that the local PD approves off (hopefully they've had contact with most of them), and ask for references.

All the best

 

[cpileri]

nope sorry

NavyDoc, my Friend,
Your status as a father of beautiful kids, husband to a super wife, a military officer during a time of War, a physician, a veteran of a foreign conflict, having valuable and desireable items in and around your home, a citizen of these United States, and having never even a parking ticket levied upon you wont help you one bit.

Now, how many of us such a studly cirriculum vitae?

The protection you will receive from law enforcement shall be reactive, and will occur either by serendipity or after you are the victim of a crime. Your instructions are to record it if you can, hide behind some cover, hope you aren't harmed, then report it.

Not even the lofty achievement of being my friend will help you!

Really, any goof with $10,000 worth of painting in his home can have a MD ccw because he is so vital to the community- can't afford to lose him. But has anyone ever died for lack of available medical care such as you provide? (sarcasm)
C-

 

[chaim]

260,000 got you in an upper middle class neighborhood in MD? I must have moved to the wrong place........

I'm not NavyDoc and I don't know where he lives but I am in MD so I can sort of answer you here.

It depends on where you are in MD. In Baltimore County you can get a fairly nice house for a quarter of a million. In Columbia you can get an average middle class family home. In Montgomery County you might manage a small condo. DC area prices are DC area prices. Here in MD they may be a tad lower than Northern Virginia but not by much. Baltimore isn't too bad, pretty much nationwide average.

 

[TheOtherOne]

Stupid or not most people will chill out if you talk to them calmly and rationally. As an adult even now, getting a chewing out is more likely to cause me to respond beligerantly than a rational discussion.

Agreed. That's the best answer and solution.

A nice conversation expressing your concerns as to why they shouldn't be driving fast on the neighborhood street is going to get much better results than an ??? chewing.

 

[Kharn]

Got a "sir,yes sir" from one of them

Tell that kid's dad if they do it again, he'll probably set them straight.

Kharn

 

[Lock316]

Friend of yours?

http://www.wtop.com/?sid=112336&nid=25

 

[cpileri]

humph

Nobody is safe. The sooner we (as in, the people who DON'T read this forum) realize that, the better off we'll all be.

That story was eerily close to home!
C-