Mother's situation, any ideas?

[Arcli9ht]

I am heading off for my second bout of college about 4 hours away from home. My mother will be living alone in the house and the problem is that some of the neighborhood kids worry me. I volunteered for the local boyscout troop and by teaching some of them about firearms, paintball strategy and a little improvised pyrotechnics, I managed to befriend just about the entire troop. By the time I couldn't volunteer anymore I had convinced a number of them that I was a little crazy and not someone to be messed with.
---- As a side note, I believe that the time spent helping the troop did more for my family's security than any other factor. If the kids know you, they're less likely to pester you.

However, it is the groups of kids a little older and the ones a little younger than the guys I know that I am worried about. They're the ones responsible for the recent string of tire slashings and general mischief around the island. They hang around the local drug house (speculation, somewhat... I know the guy deals weed but I am not sure about anything serious) at the end of the street near the avenue, and at the dead end, right by our gate.

In their groups, they rarely yield way from the road when I or anyone else drives by. This has since stopped for me since I stopped hitting the brakes and revved the engine (they'll just flip me off instead). But they have recently harrassed my mother by running out into the road as she is driving by. My advice for her was to keep moving, whether or not she was going to hit one and pull around the corner to call the police to report the accident and the menacing (not to stop or drive home).

I realize that a certain amount of this is "boys being boys" and other than property destruction is pretty harmless. I just worry that they will train their sights on my mother given that she is alone and basically defenseless. She owns a dog who charges the gate and barks like a maniac, but I am not sure if the kids know the dog is all bark and no bite.

I will be too far away to respond to any harrassment immediately and I don't really have anyone who can act as my proxy locally other than the local PD (further into the Bronx, pretty busy)

My fears are:
1. They stop her car to do god-knows-what to it/her.
-- Already advised her to not stop, no matter what because that is my plan.

2. Hanging out at our gate, at the end of the street, they harrass/injure one of our pets (dog or cats) or won't let my mother leave.
-- I would meet this threat head-on with one of the medieval weapons up for "decoration" on the first floor (I scared the hell out of two kids on the beach this summer when I walked down with the katana in my belt... They were just hiding there to make out, but I told them to leave just the same). But I suppose my mother would have to call the police and wait.

3. Harrassment of some kind at the front door.
-- The group that I befriended did this to me with a video camera before I knew them. They haven't been back. Answer would be to tell them to buzz off and call the police if they didnt.

4. Home invasion (unlikely)
-- They would really have to turn feral to do this. Other than 911, again, I don't have an answer for her.

Limiting factors for her include being deaf in one ear (and thus being completely deaf sometimes), not exactly young (mid sixties), and anti-gun(/weapon).

Any ideas for better solutions? Any unidentified threats that jump to mind?

/Arcli9ht

 

[griz]

Sounds like kids seeing what they can get away with. Call the cops about them getting in the road. Be truthful with them (don't say I almost hit one or blow it out of proportion) and the police will start keeping an eye on the kids. Usually the kids will grumble and complain that the cops are always watching them, which translates to "I can't get away with much anymore". That's what you want. Stop this petty stuff and they will be less inclined to escalte.

 

[Arc-Lite]

Have a talk with mom, and tell her the basics of not second guessing herself, if she feels something is out of line, react to it. Call in the friends you made, in the past, and explain the situation as you see it, and ask for their help, more eyes and help the better. Also go down to your local police office, and explain in detail...even better to the ones on the shift, at the time when thes kids are acting up....get her an airhorn, and speak with her neighbors, if they hear a blast, call the LAW.... When I was living out of the country, and found my area to be in question, I just hired the bad boys, and put them to work, with the understanding, if one messed up, then it effected all of them... street justice is swift, and without ya butts....it worked. Use everything you have going, now and in the past,it makes for a more peaceful future.

 

[Seven High]

Perhaps your mother and the neighbors could form a neighborhood watch association. The police department usually will help in forming it.

 

[Arcli9ht]

I've called the police in the past (about the blimp sized cloud of pot smoke floating across the road) and they seem resistant to doing much. Pretty much said 'when you see a felony in progress call back, otherwise there's nothing we can do'. But that is not a bad idea for the vehicle harassment, keep calling the police until it is percieved to be a problem.

I'd work with the kids that I've gotten to know through scouts, but aside from a few of them I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them. The few I am better friends with would steer that kind of shinannigans away from my house if they were in the group. "Oh, lets not ____ that house, I know the guy who lives there."

The neighborhood watch is a good idea too. I raised this idea with her and she was very receptive and will bring it up at the next civic association meeting (she is an officer). The island has historically dealt with its own problems (like during the blackout of 77 or the most recent one) and this is a step in the right direction. I am sure there are a number of residents who would be more than willing to patrol the streets and hassle those who need a good hassling.

I like them so far, keep them coming
/Arcli9ht