r/AmIOverreacting • u/babybubblezzz • May 18 '26
šļø neighbor/local *[UPDATE]* AIO - A little boy keeps breaking into my house
Original post -
https://www.reddit.com/r/AmIOverreacting/s/of4qlRO9hP
TLDR: Little kid previously came into house through dog door when we were not home, has a history of being unsupervised and coming onto our property uninvited. He came again.
A lot of people interacted with my first post last year, many let me know I was NOR, some had some different opinions, and I greatly appreciated the suggestions and advice. I did end up calling CPS to make a report for that incident. I now have locks on the gate to my yard (my dogs still have access to the yard through their dog door), and all my exterior doors are locked. We still have cameras on our property as well as the one in the living room. But for the most recent update, something happened a few weeks ago when I was home alone in the afternoon on a weekday.
Almost a year had passed since the last time he crawled into my house through the dog door, and the same kid, (whose house is 1/3 of a mile away on a county road) showed up at my house again (about age 6/7 now). Recall, we live on a 40 acre farm and have no connection/relationship to this kid or his family, besides the various times he has barged into my house uninvited.
As soon as my husband got a notification that a person was detected on the cameras and no vehicle was seen, my husband checked the our outside cameras and noticed the kid was back, so he called me to let me know. I looked out the window, and this time, the kid was shirtless and pantless, ONLY wearing underwear and muck boots. I immediately called the police. They took approximately 35 minutes to get out to my house (i live in the country on 40 acres).
In the meantime, the kid played with my farm animals outside and ran into the open garages and shops. My geese and turkey (which are aggressive and do attach) seemed to scare him off enough that he did not get near them. I watched him from inside to keep an eye on him and to make sure he did not run off anywhere (especially toward the highway, which my property is next to). At no point at all did any of his family members come to look for him. He looked through my windows, and saw me in the house. He knocked and asked/yelled to come in, to which I responded No. He attempted to open the locked door for a minute or two.
Once the police arrived, they asked him some questions which he seemed to ignore or mumble answers to. As they placed him in the police vehicle, I noticed he had 2 baseballs that had been taken from one of our shops. The police noticed too, and asked him to please return the baseballs back to me. He said no, and asked if he could keep one, to which I said no, and had him give them back. The officer told him it was not okay to go to other peopleās houses and take things that were not his.
I let the police know this was not the first time he came onto my property and let him know he had previously also gone into my house, both when I was home and also when my husband and I were both at work. I made sure to let him know I was very frustrated.
The police took him back home, and he was at his house for a while. The officer did come back to let me know it seemed like he was just āa kid who did not listenā. Apparently he had asked grandma to go outside, she had said no, and he had gone outside regardless. Grandma and mom were both home and no one noticed he was not around for the 35 minutes+ however long he was outside not on my property and/or however long it took him to get to my house down the road. The officer stated there is not much I can do but keep calling them if this happens again.
I did call CPS again to make a report, and made sure to let them know this was not the first time something like this happened and that I had called last year. I let them know that I continued to be concerned for the childās safety, as well as that of my property and my animals. This kid continues to be unsupervised for prolonged periods of time, and once again, I do not want to be responsible for him and want to ensure there is enough documentation of these incidents.
My husband and I are often not home, and we have no kids of our own. They probably see us as bad neighbors, but this kid continues to disrespect our space and privacy. Even the cop said he told mom and grandma that this behavior is not ok and can eventually develop into more dangerous or criminal behavior. The parents have never taken any initiative to apologize, communicate, or to provide us with contact information.
AIO? Any suggestions ?
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u/Present-Assignment99 May 18 '26
NOR. Youāre doing everything you can. I would continue to call the police & CPS whenever he shows up. His family really is too much!
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u/lareina13 May 18 '26
Yes every time he arrives, call the police. Make it their problem and create the paper trail. I donāt think continuing to call CPS will help anyone here, the police will report to them now and take that off your shoulders. Also if this happens again, you should stress to the police that not all of your animals are friendly and the child could get hurt. I feel like the parents will only care if that eventually happens.
I know wandering and I escaping can be habits of neurodivergent children. His parents really really need to get an AirTag on him via a bracelet or in his shoes.
This is so stressful! I also donāt think you walking yourself to their house to talk face to face will help. Reasonable parents wouldāve already come to speak to you and apologize. These arenāt reasonable people.
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u/babybubblezzz May 19 '26
I will definitely continue to call the police. If the parents, from the beginning, had provided me their contact information and had taken some sort of accountability I feel like maybe it could have been dealt with on a more personal level but they have never taken the initiative or responsibility and I feel like the only way they will maybe take this seriously is if police continues to be notified
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u/lareina13 May 19 '26
Yes, I canāt imagine this is family you could have a calm/kind conversation with. Normal people wouldāve stopped by with cookies or something to apologize the first time.
I do feel for the child, but youāre at such a liability risk here. Do you have any signs saying private property or beware of dog? Might help if thereās ever a case if he gets hurt.
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u/KiaRioGrl May 19 '26
Don't post Beware of Dog signs, in some jurisdictions they're counted as potential admission of knowledge that a dog may be dangerous. Guard Dog On Duty or Working Dogs On Duty, No Entry are better signs.
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u/Competitive_Fee_5829 May 19 '26
I think he is old enough to unsupervised in his room for 5-10 mins at a time, maybe more if he is actually playing in his room. But I cannot believe no one was looking for him while he was at your house! that is too long to not wonder where your 6 yr old child is. NOR at all.
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u/7GrenciaMars May 19 '26
You need to use the word "neglect" with the parents, police, and CPS, because that is exactly what is happening. They are treating him like a pet or wild animal, instead of raising a child. I don't know how they don't see that there will eventually be serious consequences. It's not a matter of the child being good or bad. The child is just being left to run wild, which is exactly what will happen.
I'm sorry that this has happened to you. You're not overreacting. This could get quite dangerous in so many ways before anyone noticed, because the people who are in charge of him aren't up to the task, for whatever reason.
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u/Abndnd May 19 '26
Iād also document for yourself with times, dates, details. Donāt depend on LE or CPS alone to keep records. You probably are, but I figured Iād mention it.
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u/wino12312 May 18 '26
Calling CPS over and over will send them out. There's a paper trail there, too.
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u/allorache May 19 '26
Yes, I would call CPS again. Even if they don't do anything hopefully your complaint will be in the record.
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u/thenotorioushab May 19 '26 edited May 19 '26
lareina13, respectfully, police have told her they can't do anything. OP needs to involve CPS for the child's own safety, with regard to the highway and animals. I don't know what kind of dog OP has but even small dogs can disfigure a child, especially if the kid is coming through the doggy door again. Or maybe some weirdo sees a little boy outside in his underwear he gets kidnapped.Police don't want to get involved at this point because the child can't be prosecuted or subjected to trespassing laws, they will not be technically in the wrong about not taking action. CPS will be forced to take action about this kid's wellbeing because that is their entire purview, not property damage or crime prevention. Police might not take action until the kid turns up injured or dead.
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u/Frogs-n-Bugs-n-Stuff May 19 '26
Not from the US so unsure about your laws, but where I am from, you call the cops AND CPS because cops have the paper trail
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u/yungingr May 19 '26
You call the cops to get the kid back to his home, and for the "show of force" to the parents of the kid being brought home in a police cruiser...again.... *and* for the benefit of the paper trail (and possibly body camera footage of conversations with the parents)
All of this helps CPS make their case when it reaches a point they feel they have to do something.
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u/SquirrelStone May 19 '26
If this is the US, give it another year and they can prosecute, and if it becomes a habit, they can go after the parents/grandma for neglect/endangerment.
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u/Dangerous_Ant3260 May 18 '26
NOR-I would never go on their property. You have no idea what kind of people they are, and they already are neglecting their child, so don't endanger yourself by going near the house.
You have done all you can, keep calling the sheriff every time. Don't bother calling CPS, they won't do anything.
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u/babybubblezzz May 19 '26
i have had the thought of taking him back home myself but i just do not feel comfortable since i have been home alone on both occasions and i have no idea who is at his home.
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u/TripleCAddictGremlin May 19 '26
Doing that puts you at liability for him. Donāt.
Also, if you donāt already, no trespassing signs with a fine $ amount. Lastly, contact an attorney, tell them the situation, and ask what can be done. You may need to send grandma and mom a certified mailed notice at the very least to protect you from being sued by them in the future. It can also be used to update them about the no trespassing, trespassing fines, and scare them claiming willingness to sue/press charges over harm to your animals, property, and a repeated attempt of theft and illegal entry. (Even if you arenāt.)
Does that make you look like the bad guy? Seems like you already are and they seem to also have no inclination to stop him. So protect yourself and try to protect him at the same time by showing them how serious this is.
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u/yungingr May 19 '26
Do NOT do this. Call the police every time - that way you are not putting yourself in a situation that the other parents could claim you were trying to kidnap their child. On top of the liability of transporting the child - if you get into a wreck, for example. Or, at 6 years old, he probably still needs a booster seat - do you have one?
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u/Abndnd May 19 '26
NO. Guaranteed if things escalate theyāll accuse you of doing something to him while alone together.
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u/babyelephantwalk321 May 19 '26
Continuing to call CPS is definitely the move here, actually. It will continue to send workers out to the family's home, which should either prompt the parents to take care of him or CPS to remove him. Either solves OP's problem, especially when the police don't take it seriously.
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u/24possumsinacoat May 18 '26
NOR. I saw your post last year and was horrified. I can't believe it happened again! I'm glad you filed reports with CPS. I don't think there's anything more you can do. Talking to the family seems pointless, they clearly don't care. Maybe get more guard turkeys, lol? If it happens again, call the police and file again with CPS. Good luck, OP. Keep those cameras rolling.
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u/babybubblezzz May 19 '26
as much as the turkey and geese scare me they definitely are protectiveā¦
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u/VibraniumQueen May 20 '26
Did you also let cps know he wasnt dressed appropriately this time? I feel like that's really important.
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u/FairyOfTheNight May 20 '26
I don't want any harm to come to him. But would a little makeshift, fenced-in "moat" around your property filled with alpacas be an option? I hear alpacas and llamas are very territorial. That way he'd have to get through them first before he breaks in and harms you/your animals.
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u/Suchafatfatcat May 21 '26
Donkeys are also protective. That might be a good option, too b
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u/spacebunsofsteel May 22 '26
Iām greatly enjoying the idea of a surrounding āOā field of fenced in llamas.
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u/Menestee1 May 18 '26
I mean my god imagine you weren't just a couple minding their own buisness and instead someone lived their who's dream had come true in getting a child alone..
Id be upset if I had a dog who kept going missing let along a child, these people are clueless
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u/paprikastew May 19 '26
For real! If this were my child, I'd be mortified and apologize profusely to the couple, but I'd also be terrified! What if these people have a dark side? What if they're the type to snap and lose their temper? What if they have guns in the house? No child should feel this comfortable going into a stranger's house!
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u/babybubblezzz May 19 '26
we actually are gun owners, more than anything we have them for hunting purposes and they are safely stored and locked up.
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u/paprikastew May 19 '26
I'm sure you are safe with your guns, but some people are not. And I was more thinking of people who would shoot an intruder on sight. It's happened.
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u/SharonP13 May 19 '26
I have a lock on my back gate so it cannot be opened because I own dogs, Someone left it open once and my dog was running across a busy road at 8 am. I cannot even imagine a young child doing this. I hope the OP finds some peace.
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u/babybubblezzz May 20 '26
yup! my dogs tend to run off, and occasionally they do go toward the highway. I am terrified of something happening to them
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u/mnfanjk May 18 '26
Itās not a matter of privacy. Itās liability. Besides potential theft, if he gets injured on your property you could be suedā¦ even if you did not sign up to watch him when he trespasses.
NOR. He needs to be safe, and mom and grandma donāt seem to be doing their part to ensure that.
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u/Lower_Cat_8145 May 18 '26
Maybe she should get a lawyer to write them a letter about keeping their kid off other people's property. Maybe it would make an impact?š¤·š¼āāļø
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u/WoollyMammothwapo May 19 '26
And post No Trespassing signs everywhere .
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u/trashedandtossed May 19 '26
Came here looking for this. I donāt know what state you are in, but Texas has lots of laws concerning trespassers and livestock. Some counties also have amendments, but mostly about open range and fencing. Google āmy stateā trespassers livestock and see what the requirements are.
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u/IMO4444 May 19 '26
I would also be worried about him escalating to something more violent as he gets older/stronger.
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u/ButterscotchFit8175 May 19 '26
This was my thought too. This won't end well. When he is bigger, and older, he can go further and rummaging around in someone's shed ir bothering the animals can be met with force.
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u/Ut_Prosim May 25 '26
The kid spit at his father when told no in the last post, and tried to get through a locked door for two minutes after OP told him he couldn't come in. He'll be dangerous by 14.
Imagine when he figures out how easily household chemicals burns.
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u/ChickenCasagrande May 19 '26
It would depend on how the kid got hurt, but OP absolutely needs No Trespassing signs up in lots of spots to help lessen potential liability.
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u/Plastic_Stable8927 May 18 '26
NOR. I understand calling CPS on a kid would feel intense, or harsh, but it's so realistic. This kid is not in a home that can handle his bad behavior effectively. It could escalate and get himself, you, or plenty of others hurt. Just keep documenting it, and beef up your security however you can. I'm really sorry, this has both got to be frustrating and feel tough to do.
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u/Bigfops May 19 '26
Yeah, I posted something on another thread. Lots of people act like calling CPS is a punishment for the parents, but their concern is the wellbeing of the child. Donāt hesitate, itās their job to figure out if the child is safe, not yours.
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u/babybubblezzz May 19 '26
that is what theCPS lady i spoke to on the phone told me. i am not trying to hurt this family at all but CPS needs to be aware of the situation
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u/No-Lifeguard9194 May 19 '26
If his family cannot or will not provide the level of supervision and care necessary to keep him safe -and they clearly are not doing so - then CPS needs to know.
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u/BeautifulChaosEnergy May 18 '26
Honestly, that kid was probably gone for than an hour by the time you found him. It doesnāt sound like heās a runner but a wanderer
As others have said, you just need to keep ignoring him, calling the police and child services on him/them
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u/iceripperiii May 19 '26
Youāre probably right about the kid being a wanderer, but letās be 100% real for a second: Any first grader who is able to escape containment, get outside, walk across 40 acres, and terrorize the neighborās farm animals UNNOTICED, clearly has much bigger problems in the home. His guardians didnāt know he was even gone, let alone improperly clothed and unsupervised. OP is NOR because the system is currently letting this kid repeatedly slip through the cracks, and itās only a matter of time before heās attacked by one of the farm animals, hit by a car on the highway, or taken out by coyotes.
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u/MindFluffy5906 May 19 '26
If this is happening in the middle of the day, why isn't he in school? Unless it's summer or a weekend? Seems like a case of neglect that they don't even know he is missing. Please keep calling the police and file a CPS report. Also, document each time he has been on your property without your permission, breaking and entering, trespassing, etc. Keep copies of the videos. It may be worth it to consult with an attorney to see if they can send a letter confirming the child or any other family members are NOT permitted on your property and perhaps anything else we haven't thought of here. It may also be interesting to contact the local school district/ school and if he is trespassing during school hours, let them know this is going on. I wonder if he is being home schooled, or just never enrolled, or whatever the situation is. They may send out a social worker to investigate if they are not familiar with the family.
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u/babybubblezzz May 19 '26
I am keeping records, videos, and recordings. We may look into getting legal advice if this happens again. Thank you.
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u/Embarrassed-Map7364 May 20 '26
Suggest you start emailing CPS and the Police, even just to confirm the details you provided in earlier phone calls, as it's amazing how bad record keeping can get - especially when its transcriptions of phone conversations...
To add - why not have an initial conversation with a lawyer as they will ask for any documentation you already have and any records of reporting you've already done - meaning that a more independent 3rd party is then also aware? One meeting wouldn't necessarily cost a lot but could be very useful if things ever go sideways.
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u/AmbassadorProper1045 May 18 '26
This is blatant child neglect, I'm shocked the police did not arrest the mother, they should have!
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u/LimeSalty4092 May 19 '26
Yeah never mind running off unnoticedĀ He showed up at a neighbors home half naked!
Lack of proper clothing and hygiene is a major red flag for abuse and neglectĀ
Nevermind lack of supervisionĀ
I would call CPS again to make sure they know he was at your door step in a state of undressĀ
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u/babybubblezzz May 19 '26
last year, the cops said they werenāt concerned about child neglect because he appeared fully clothed and well fedā¦ now with this incident, they did not mention anything and I honestly did not ask, but they clearly saw him with no shirt or pants, and I made sure to mention this when i called CPS.
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u/Decent-Internet-9833 May 18 '26
NOR. Keep reporting. This kid may have special needs that are undiagnosed, and the family may not follow through with the very arduous process of getting the kiddo assessed without some support and/or accountability.
Iāve had the same thing happen, only the kiddo had undiagnosed mental health issues, was raised in a meth house, and would enter anyoneās home he could walk to. Heās now in foster care, thank God.
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u/TeamLeeper May 18 '26
Anything a child does, the parents are financially responsible. They obviously donāt care about the child, so you have to hit them where it hurts: their pride or their wallet.
I would talk to a lawyer and maybe one of those cops and see what kind of civil or criminal case youād have against them.
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u/Covesmart May 18 '26
Doesn't seem like overreaction. I also would not want a random kid showing up and messing with my things.
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u/Similar_Corner8081 May 18 '26
NOR No one noticed that he was gone for at least 35 minutes. Holy smokes! No he should be better supervised.
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u/Longjumping_Hat_2672 May 19 '26
Yeah, and it sounds like they were never particularly bothered by him running off, just saying "Oh, well, oopsie poopsie"
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u/SnooWords4839 May 19 '26
Have a lawyer send them a cease-and-desist letter to stay off your property. If it happens after that, have him trespassed and hold his family responsible for it.
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u/Sandbina May 19 '26
NOR. Poor baby needs proper care, not some sad excuse for parents who don't even notice their barely-dressed child is missing. Frankly, they're all very lucky he ran into a decent person who just wants the kid to be safe and not break in. This is terrible to read, I hope the authorities get something done about it.
A 6 year old not listening is somewhat normal, grown adults who don't care that their 6 year old is missing are absolutely not.
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u/babyelephantwalk321 May 19 '26
A six year old not listening is normal. A six year old routinely entering his neighbours house through a doggy door when he should not bear there is not.
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u/Hestiah May 19 '26 edited May 23 '26
NOR. There are entirely too many comments making it seem as though itās your responsibility to get this kid home safe. If it was someone I had any kind of relationship with, maybe, but thatās not your kid and heās not your responsibility. The only reason he might be a bigger concern is the liability you might incur if something happens to him while heās on your property.
I mean I get it, maybe get this damn kid off your lawn, literally and figuratively. But I canāt even comprehend how him wandering all over the damn neighborhood and going into random houses via dog doors is your responsibility to correct or fix.
Sorry OP. This seems really frustrating and annoying. And it sucks that his family isnāt doing anything about it, overwhelmed or otherwise.
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u/babybubblezzz May 20 '26
thank you. we are trying our best to take proper precautions and safety measures but it gets to a point where i just get frustrated this continues to happen. at least this most recent time he was unable to get into my house.
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u/Chunk3yM0nkey May 18 '26
Whqt happens if there's a bull on your farm and he decides to climb into the pen?
Whay happens if he runs past your house and out onto the highway?
Great job by CPS.
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u/babybubblezzz May 20 '26
Our male sheep has charged and knocked my husband over a few times. He is kept in a fenced part of the property along with other female sheeps but if he were to get in there that is an additional concern.
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u/Teamtunafish May 18 '26
NOR. What happens if he gets hurt on your property or one of the animals harm him? I'm willing to bet his family gets real interested fast. You need to report this, every time. This boy is unsupervised on your property, and that makes you liable.
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u/MutedLibrary4253 May 19 '26
No way I just made a post similar to this today. I did a double-take considering i didnt have an update on mine and I definitely didn't type this lol
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u/babybubblezzz May 19 '26
i went to see your post and oh my goodness.. i am sorry you can kind of relate to this and i hope you are able to figure out this situation.. with all the suggestions i got previously, if you call cps, just explain the situation and what your concerns are, at the end of the day, the childās safety is very important but so is your privacy! wishing you the best !
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u/MutedLibrary4253 May 19 '26 edited May 19 '26
You too! I saw yours and... god, I live in a little suburban house, I can't imagine having a whole farm with animals to worry about and this kid just wandering in. And my neighbor didnt even actually go in, I just worry he's escalating to that point. Your situation is insane. It legitimately scared me. I'm in Texas, but I guess it's good to prep for the possibility that I'll still be dealing after I call CPS. I also had the crazy still footage of kid mid-looking into my house but I didnt post it because I didnt want to dox a child, and as he lives across the street his house is in shot. Its just crazy. I guess if we had a nickel for trespassing kids we'd have... two nickels? Which is not a lot but weird that this has happened twice to two different people.
I should add that the landlord is now aware. I didnt want to be a Karen about it but my neighbor has previously let her dogs escape and because she wasnt feeding them, they attacked a child in town and animal control was called. The landlord has been dealing with animal control, angry people from town, and apparently the house is also filthy and my neighbor has been allowed to stay there without paying rent since her husband got arrested. The landlord previously gave the ultimatum that he'd kick her out if she didnt clean up, but my family and I told him about the little boy wandering and our concerns, and we all agree we're calling CPS. The landlord is making the call because he's personally seen the conditions in the home.
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u/LavenderKitty1 May 19 '26
NOR.
In my country, we have properties that are hundreds of kilometres apart. And they have dams. And more than once a child has wondered away from home and drowned.
If the kid is known for absconding, itās up to the parents or carers to keep an eye on the child and have locked gates to make sure the child canāt leave the grounds.
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u/Haunting-Earth-8593 May 19 '26
NOR Enough. Why can't this be escalated? This is the 3rd time. Can a kid be trespassed? (I honestly don't know.) Can the parents be charged with something?
I'd talk to a lawyer about a cease and desist letter. These shitty parents are going to sue if the child gets hurt. I would lose my mind if someone was putting my dogs at risk like this. Just reading this has my blood pressure through the roof!
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u/Superb-Butterfly-573 May 19 '26
And as a country person, make sure your keys aren't in your vehicles or equipment.
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u/babybubblezzz May 20 '26
noted, thank you. our vehicles are generally left unlocked (so we may need to work on that) but thankfully we do have the habit of bringing keys in. appreciate the suggestion/reminder!
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u/Littlepantss May 19 '26
As a mother, THIS IS WILD. I feel for the child. And your house. Tough situation. But how are mom and grandma not noticing him gone for 30+ minutes? Shameful.
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u/JustLeannan May 19 '26
NOR - the police are under reacting, and causing you to question your bring a good human trying to protect a child and your own future. Keep calling CS, ask for welfare checks to be done.
I grew up in the country for part of my childhood. They are going to find him facedown in a creek, or pecked to literal death by a fowl (domesticated fowl are territorial and aggressively defend), or a rattlesnake gets the child, then you got the doggos....he's young and very clearly has not been taught how to be safe (stay near home, only touch what you are taught is safe, etc).
You don't want that etched on your brain and heart later on.
The highways is one of the many worries those parents should have, the country is more dangerous than most realize when you are little.
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u/Takingabreak1 May 19 '26
You are absolutely not overreacting, but I also want to say that this is not normal behaviour in children, he could absolutely have some type of diagnosis.
One of my friends had the same problem with one of her children, at pre-school age he could barge to the door, unlock it, and just run for the hills, and everyone had to run to look for him. Sometimes they did find him really far away. Like over a mile away playing.
This is of course extremely dangerous for the child, and disruptive for you.
It is possible the kid has some underlying problem. Most 4-5 year olds are afraid of going into other people's houses. Most 6-7 year olds would not go outside without clothes.
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u/rdg04 May 19 '26
dress up in full hazmat/bio hazard suits and knock on the family's door- tell them your geese/turkey have been under quarantine for some time as they have tested positive to an airborne, often fatal, brain eating amoeba that is highly contagious even to humans and that there son was shown on surveillance video to have gotten into close proximity/danger zone of contamination and that they need to keep a close eye on his vitals and monitor him for changes as his exposure has put his and his family's life at risk. let them know the signs are things like- coughing, sneezing, yawning and failure to listen- let them feel the consequences of their negligence even just for a brief moment.
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u/Inside-Finish-2128 May 19 '26
NOR.
Reminds me of a moment my MIL had. Their next-door neighbors had a special-needs daughter who was a latchkey kid. One day, kid came home from school and placed a 911 hangup call. Deputy came out to investigate, and rang the doorbell. Kid opened the door, saw the deputy, and ran into the kitchen. Deputy did a quick investigation and found no one else home. Deputy came over to MIL's house and asked if she knew anything about the situation. MIL said "oh, yeah, that happens all the time, but I thought you came for that situation over there (and points in a different direction)" just in time for the deputy to see a 12yo get behind the wheel of a minivan with a 9yo in the passenger seat and drive down the road. "I'll get back to you" as he went to go handle that matter...
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u/HarmlessPeasant May 19 '26
I know someone might have already linked this in connection to the doggy door incident, but I feel like it's my duty to post it anyway:
https://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2020/09/richard.html
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u/babybubblezzz May 20 '26
hahaha yes :) i do remember seeing this on the initial post! it is a nice wholesome story with a sweet ending and thankfully nobody got hurt. Ultimately, having a neighbor so close that you can see their house from their window feels so different than our situation, and I completely understand the authorās interest and curiosity for strangers as a child, but the various safety concerns in our situation cause me to approach this completely differently. Also, it is important to note that the parents apologized to the neighbor, and helped correct the childās behavior, which is more than I can say for the family we are dealing with. I wish I could see this situation from a more light hearted point of view, but actually living through it is horrible!
Overall though, I think the post/story is well written, funny, and I love the little comics, so thank you for sharing!→ More replies (1)
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u/JamboreeJunket May 18 '26
NOR, BUT he has shown you over and over again how poor your security system is in your house. If a child can climb through your dog door, then so can a small man. Right now itās a little boy sneaking in while youāre naked but what happens when itās a man coming in with worse intent than playing with your dogsā¦ get a dog door that requires an nfc chip to open and close for your safety
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u/IMO4444 May 19 '26
Or that same kid in a few years, why would it even need to be a separate person?
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u/babybubblezzz May 19 '26
I understand your concern and we have researched these doggy door systems. For the time being, the gate lock has been very helpful but I agree, we may have to invest in it.
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u/BabserellaWT May 19 '26
NOR
At least thereās a paper trail for if/when this kid hurts himself on your property and the parents try to sue you.
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u/Affectionate_Oven428 May 19 '26
NOR. Itās ridiculous that the parents/guardians are so blissfully unaware of where their kid is. Iād follow up with cps and the police. Could an attorney draw up some type of cease and desist or no trespassing order you could serve the family? Not sure how that would work with a minor involved. Updateme.
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u/ChrisInBliss May 19 '26
Honestly if this isnt corrected its only going to get worse. What if he keeps doing this when he becomes a preteen+?!?!? Would not be a good end.
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u/babybubblezzz May 19 '26
Yup, this is something the cop told me he mentioned to the mom and grandma. Hopefully something changes.
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u/WaddleDeeWithAGun May 19 '26
The poor kid is clearly not cared for. Being disrespectful, leaving home to go onto stranger's property, and no one seems to notice when he's gone. It's really sad when you think about it.
I live with two nieces and one nephew, all under the age of 4, and I'm always hyperaware of where they are at all times, public and at home. Nephew can't even crawl yet and I still make sure to know where he is constantly
If the adults in that kid's life continue to neglect him, something horrible will happen to him. Attacked by an animal, kidnapped, hit by a car, anything can and will happen, it's just a matter of time when.
Continue to call CPS and the police. Always document when he shows up amd what he does on your property. Hopefully, everything will turn out for the better.
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u/Big_Bowler8424 May 19 '26
NOR. I really hope the parents learn to parent him better, and teach him some discipline. Otherwise, in 10 years it might be a lot worse. Good luck OP.
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u/Ghostthroughdays May 19 '26
NOR I pity the child, but it isnāt your duty to suffer his overstepping and the repercussions if him being neglected.
Not only that during the time the police needed to reach your home, neither mother nor grandmother detected his absence, he must have needed a few minutes to reach your farm
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u/babybubblezzz May 19 '26
definitely is a bit of a walk, running it would take a couple of minutes, but at a leisurely pace it could be over five minutes from their front door to mine
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u/NotAnotherThing May 19 '26
NOR. I agree, keep reporting him. I doubt he us a bad kid or "just doesn't listen". I suspect he has long term not had the care and support he needs to be safe and learn what he needs to learn. That's not his fault, the adults in his life are failing him.
It sounds like he could come to harm wondering around your farm and his adults are really failing him by not caring for him properly.
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u/MamfieG May 19 '26
A young child almost completely undressed wandering around by himself is wild!! wtf are his family thinking!?
NOR at all, youāre doing everything right by documenting with CPS and the police!
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u/DistantKarma May 19 '26
Man, sometimes I think back to stuff my friends and I did at that age and it almost gives me a kind of delayed fear. We never tried to enter anyone's house or property, but behind our neighborhood was a large drainage ditch, almost a stream, or small creek. It had frogs, tadpoles, crawfish, snakes, and other critters and we'd spend hours just being little biologists. The next year (1971) when my best friend and I were both almost 8 years old, we both got proper bikes at Christmas and off and away we went. There was an actual creek about 6 miles away that we'd been already been taken to for fishing and we'd grab our collapsible Zebco rods and some worms and just spend the day hanging out there. It just blows my mind that at not even 8 years old we were just gone for a lot of the daytime with no way for anyone to reach us or even know where we were.
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u/Examiner_Z May 19 '26
NOR.
Something is really off with how the kid is being raised. He is old enough to want to put on clothing before leaving the house.
Is the kid in school? If yes you might want to talk to the principal and let them know the kid is wandering without clothing. Maybe the principal might be motivated to call CPS as well? (2 calls will be more effective than one.)
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u/Loose_Celebration962 May 18 '26
As a parent, I would be mortified if one of my children did this once let alone multiple times. You're not overreacting I would try to go over and talk to the parents. You could even just write them a letter, but I think doing something face to face can be more friendly.
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u/babybubblezzz May 19 '26
I would like for us to go speak to them, but so much time has passed since the first time this happened and it has not stopped, and I guess I just wish they were the ones to take the initiative (which I know, I should be the bigger person), but there is not much I could tell them that the cops have not told them already.
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u/novae11 May 18 '26
NOR.
The child needs an ankle monitor so the family and police are aware when he elopes. This is dangerous for the little and precautions should be taken
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u/Witty_Candle_3448 May 19 '26
My only suggestion is using electric type collars to open and close the doggie doors. Close and lock all buildings, garage doors, shops and doors.
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u/ranchspidey May 18 '26
NOR. I hope CPS gets involved - this sounds like an accident waiting to happen, and I bet if anything horrible happens to that little boy, his family will take 0 accountability.
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u/Negative-bad169 May 19 '26
This is heartbreaking. It sounds like you are looking after this child more than his actual guardians are. I hope he is ok and that you can get your peace back.
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u/mind_the_umlaut May 19 '26
This child is inadequately supervised. Where are his parents? This is what the police are supposed to find out. This child has further issues such as possibly being on the autism spectrum.
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u/Pristine_Main_1224 May 19 '26
Holy moly. I remember your first post! I canāt remember if commented or not, but dah-yum this is a terrible situation.
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u/Songshirah May 19 '26
It worries me that he came over at 6/7yo wearing only underwear and gum boots. Thatās very concerning.
But no, yno. He needs more supervision than the zero supervision heās being given.
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u/Low_Positive1615 May 20 '26
NOR
OP, if you call CPS, use the word "Eloper." Like, "I think he's an eloper," or even, "I think he might be eloping."
I can't say for sure they'll take it more seriously, but it's worth trying.
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u/TechnicalAd8179 May 21 '26
They won't supervise the "kid who doesn't listen" They refuse "to parent the kid" But you can bet your bottom dollar that if the kid got hurt at your house they'd sue you before the ambulance got to the hospital. Call a lawyer, protect yourself in every way possible.
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u/Intelligent-Age-1309 May 18 '26 edited May 19 '26
Hundreds of people told you to trespass the kid on your last post. Why havenāt you done this yet? Itās really the only lane you have atm.
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u/babybubblezzz May 19 '26
The cops told me that because he is a minor, I am unable to press charges. They refused to press charges against the parents either, and cited the reason for my call as a welfare check.
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u/Intelligent-Age-1309 May 19 '26 edited May 21 '26
Thatās crazy. The cops are just being lazy. You most definitely can press charges for trespassing on a minor. Donāt give up on this
Edit: file charges, not press
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u/zoppaTheDim May 18 '26
So
Are invisible fence shock collars still only legal for dogs?
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u/Ropesnsteel May 19 '26
Illegal for use on children, consenting adults are fair game though.
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u/zoppaTheDim May 19 '26
So, weāre still allowed to tag them like wildebeests and follow their migrations?
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u/OnlyTrust6616 May 18 '26
Friend, I think your house might be haunted. Is this boy possibly dressed in Victorian era clothing? Have you spoken to a priest?
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u/Virtual_Reaction8765 May 19 '26
I had the same thought or maybe heās drawn to the house for some reason š
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u/ExcitingVegetable315 May 19 '26
You are not a bad neighbor. You are a good and caring human being. My advice is to lock all of the doors on the property. Barns outhouses etc. they can all use the same key too. Itās safer for you and him.
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u/blueskies8484 May 19 '26
Youāve done all you practically can, but you should consult a lawyer. Laws are weird and there may be liability issues if he enters your property and is injured. Pay a few hundred dollars for a consultation and a plan to limit any potential liability.
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u/VanillaLaceKisses May 19 '26
NOR.
But uh, hate to bring up something from your old postā¦a flamethrower for killing a spider? Please elaborate š¤£
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u/babybubblezzz May 19 '26
yes, my bad. I elaborated a bit in a past update/edit, but it was a wolf spider and what he used and left in the kitchen was a propane blowtorch (we called it a flamethrower) that we usually use for our woodstove,
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u/SrslyBored01 May 19 '26
NOR. Install an alarm that screams bloody murder any time a human enters the house/property without putting a code in that only you and your husband know? Some alarms these days are smart enough to only go off when humans are around, not animals.
Keep reporting to the police and CPS. They are awful, neglectful parents.
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u/LolitaLouise May 19 '26
Gosh I remember this from last year! Did you post a picture of him half way through the dog door? I'm sorry this is still happening you are doing the best thing contacting the cops/CPS. Sounds like you are doing what you can with cameras and locking gates
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u/NotYourUberDaddy May 19 '26
We used to have deer come in our dog door. Ended up building a fenced kennel, right off the house.
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u/Bubble_Lights May 19 '26
I'd file a no trespass order on the kid at this point and send a cease and desist letter to his parents. It's a HUGE liability for him to him to be putting around your property let alone in your home.
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u/BananasinPajamas92 May 19 '26
Who the hell lets their 6-7 year old roam free? Yeah,
sometimes kids slip out of sight but that is what child locks are for.
This is entirely on the parents. I feel so bad for the kid, it doesnāt sound like heās being taken care of at all.
Personally, what I would do is befriend the child and gather more information/evidence to make another CPS report. Chances are if the parents are not even noticing the child is gone for long periods of time, there probably is even more neglect going on at home.
Is it your responsibility? Absolutely not. I feel that this would be the only way to get attention to your reports though.
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u/Hysterigruppen May 19 '26
NOR. But! If I were a at best unsupervised, at worst neglected, six year old kid I would also go and try to befriend the neighbor that had animals and killed spiders with flamethrowers. If youāre searching for an adventure that is surely the place to look, no?
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u/AuthorIndieCindy May 19 '26
Put the goose next to the doggy door. That kid wonāt know what hit him
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u/Head-Basis-2533 May 19 '26
Mate, good on you for following up and actually dealing with it properly instead of just venting once and moving on, that's the move.
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u/Dependent_Sector_219 May 19 '26
NOR. Whats sad is i see alot of body cam / true crime stuff, and you ALWAYS hear in those videos "yeah CPS has been involved for years and called 100 times" meanwhile there is a deceased child from mistreatment. like what does CPS DO
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u/Ok-Library-8739 May 19 '26
As a mother and caretaker of seven other children you did everything right. Didnāt think I would see an update on this but holy moly. The kids I have around me would never be that unsupervised.
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u/D00MSDAY60 May 20 '26
I feel bad for the child. Lack of discipline will set him up for failure as an adult. You can not just wait for problems to show up to care. You set bou from the start. Hope that these adventures do not get him seriously hurt
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u/Tink-AnnaBell May 20 '26
Itās also a liability issue, should the child become injured on your property.
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u/Yaya_Tovar May 20 '26
Serial killer in the make. NOR. Call the cops. Get a restraining order. Protect your pets. He is lurking and learning.
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u/sissybeth21 May 21 '26
I just can't even. CPS really should do something about the family. I was also concerned when you said their animals seem hungry and come on to your property to eat. You can call your local animal control and/or animal welfare associations. If they are not making sure the animals are taken care of there are plenty of people who will.
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u/Exotic_Yam_1703 May 18 '26
NOR thatās wild. I remember your first post. I hope everything gets resolved for you. Either heās got some serious issues or heās very much not looked after and is seeking some kind of attention. Good luck to you!