Need some advice

[Still a Bigbuckifan]

Alright guys I need some advise as some of you know some kids broke into my church and burnt it down about 3 weeks ago (here is the thread) http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1225731090

Well the insurance company came threw and we already have the check from them, and our church services are doing better than ever. The problem is the kids that did this. When they broke into the church, before they started the fire they vandalized the place. They carved satanic things in the wall and sacrificed a dog in side the building. The community I live in is a rural community about 45 minutes from town and it's a pretty rough neighborhood. These kids now are starting to basically intimidate people. My best friends dad woke up the morning at about 2:00 in the morning to like six kids in his drive way, he called the cops got up and got his pistol and waited, the kids left after a few minutes but it took the cops like an hour to get there. These kids are to stupid to realize how serious this stuff there doing is and they have no fear. I know my friends dad does not want to hurt any body but he has to protect his family. I'm just asking for some prayers and advice on the matter.

Thanks for your help.

[Grey Wolf]

Prayers are the easy part , as for the advice , that's a tough one. People have the right to defend themselves if they are accousted.

[aceman387]

just curious werent  these kids caught ,and didnt anything happen to them ? what age are these kids ?   to old for parental resposibility?   if so you probably dont have any other choice but to arm yourselves  or become a victim of the hooligans.

[Still a Bigbuckifan]

The thing with these kids is there is no evidence. No evidence + no conviction.  As for the age, its not just a few people we have 28 house in my neighborhood that are registered with the county to engage in animal sacrifice for their religious purposes. The kids who did this to my church took some stuff when they left, the cops say the only chance we have at a conviction is catching them with the stuff the stole.

[firefightn15]

Inundate the sheriff's department with calls.  Tell everybody in the area.  Everytime you think you see something related to these criminals, call the sheriff.  Don't make things up, be genuine, but call and call and call asking for extra patrol.  

I live in the biggest county in Wisconsin, and the sheriff's office is on one end and I live on the other.  At any given time it can take for ever because there is only one car on my "end" of the county.  It's a budget thing and may be part of your problem with patrol issues.  If everyone calls each time there is a problem with these idiots, the sheriff's office gets cranky, the media catches wind, and the general public is made more aware of the problem.  It sucks to put this all on the sheriff's department but it's one way of getting some action.  If a deputy has to leave his normal patrol to deal with these jerks, he's apt to be upset about that.  And if the deputy is upset, he's gonna make it as difficult for them as he can.  Good luck, and best wishes.

[firefightn15]

As an afterthought, do you have a neighborhood watch?  If not, talk to the sheriff's office about starting one.  You can do this yourself, but it would be better to have law enforcement involved.  I'm not sure how law enforcement is set up down by you, but there is maybe the possibility of having direct radio contact with the sheriff.  Anyway that you may do it, be sure NEVER to confront these people.  Ever.

[bassnleo]

Work with your local Police dept and start a Community Watch program. Alert the local media to the issues your community is facing. Your community has to band together and fight the problem.

Video tape the activites of the youths, have all your neighbors do the same. Send the videos to the media and the Police.

The youths will eventually get tired of being taped and hauled in by the Police.

The last thing I would recommed is "grabbing your pistol" and engaging in a confrontation with them.  I'm not saying to defend yourself god forbid it ever comes to that, BUT, don't go out looking for the trouble either.

[Still a Bigbuckifan]

The whole neighborhood watch thing has been thrown around, but there are 2 big problems. 1.) It takes our police so long to get were we live 2.) Being out there patrolling would just give these people a better idea on who they needed to mess with. The video idea is a good idea and I will be sure to tell my friend about that. Also I was not condoning the use of a pistol, my friends dad did not grab his gun and go running after the kids he just grabbed the gun and sat by the window and waited. Trust me we are not looking for trouble but trouble found us. The deacons from my church and my pastor are setting up a meeting with the sheriff soon, hopefully this will solve some of the problems.

[grimlin]

Work with your local Police dept and start a Community Watch program. Alert the local media to the issues your community is facing. Your community has to band together and fight the problem.

Video tape the activites of the youths, have all your neighbors do the same. Send the videos to the media and the Police.

The youths will eventually get tired of being taped and hauled in by the Police.

The last thing I would recommed is "grabbing your pistol" and engaging in a confrontation with them. I'm not saying to defend yourself god forbid it ever comes to that, BUT, don't go out looking for the trouble either.

Video taping is gonna kill them....that's all the evidence you need.Tape them every time they do something stupid,against the law or suspicious.

Start crime watch with the neighbors and have them do the same...The more you guys together the faster and better things will get solved.There's power behind the numbers as well.