OT busted car windows

Got some cars stored behind my shop . Waiting for one of those slow times to fix one up and sell or parts cars etc. Buddy had his 79 Firebird there too , kinda stored , kinda fix this when you get time deal . Well, other day i was out there and notice some rocks, lot of rocks. This is grass, and usually kept mowed. So I look around and notice windshield busted on one car, then another, and another , CRAP ! Called cops, they came out filled out report etc. Never figured to hear much about it , figured I was out whatever damages . This morning squad car pulls up back , figured he was doing follow up report . He said he just got called for kids breaking windows , turns out they came back , neighbor saw them and called. More damage , he looked around found couple skateboards , thought he knew where they belonged . Officer calls this afternoon , says kids in custody , do i want to press charges ? I figured est $1500-2000 damage . I asked him to have kid parents bring them by the shop . Jr high age kids . They show up , I tell them what I want , "Rocks picked up , windows in cars replaced , I didn;t want to have to make a call to anyone , glass Co , Insurance co . At first one kids dad balked at that , he wanted to see the damages . Took him out back showed him all the rocks and such , he looked at his kid and said " You are in so much trouble ! " He took pictures , said he would call glass co ,,and that the kids would be there this afternoon to clean up . I told him I thought the kids would learn a better lesson if they had to clean up and be resposible for their actions , both sets of parents agreed and siad the kids would be ther instead of on vaction for spring break . They also said whatever I needed them to do , split stack wood , mow , clean up etc,,they will be there ! Cops said as long as everyone agreed , and followed through , no charges, no lawsuits .
They showed up , cleaned all the rocks, said they would be back sunday . I have some other good projects for them . I told them maybe we can make something good come of this . Asked them if they liked race cars and ever worked on one? I'll see how they do this week , and then see how they feel about helping swap motors on the stock car . hopefully they will learn something . I kicked around what course of action to take on this for a long time . Think I did the right thing ?

I think u did the right thing, hopefully something will be learned. You also saved alot of court expense, or tax dollars on thes punks, I would imagine.

Perfect outcome (I would ask one of the parents to assist in some of the initial projects just to coach the reality. JimN

You did good.

I got my stores lot swept several times when I was in Nebraska by kids who were caught shoplifting.

I think you did the right thing. Kids do some stupid things sometimes with out thinking. My father caught me chewing some Red Man tabaco. Made me swallow it juice and all. I was sick for two days,never touched the stuff again or smoked.

You did the right thing. These kids will remember and thank you when they are older. When I was a kid I was with another boy and we talked about cutting the strings on a load of baled hay that was parked in town. After deliberation we chose not to but we were slightly tempted. We knew the owner and really liked him. I do not know why this thought entered our minds.

You are a good man. This opportunity could have caused those kids to be left angry and with a record - perhaps causing them to continue down the wrong path.

You decided to teach a very valuable life lesson instead. Those kids will remember this for a long, long time - and most likely remember in a positive way.

Sounds like everything worked out pretty well. Hopefully the parents will make the kids pay for it.

When I was growing up if somebody did something stupid and it cost money to fix mommy and daddy would pay for it. No skin off the kids nose, thus they don't learn about consequences to one's actions.

That is way fair, and a good lesson in life. What kind of race car do you have? Roundy Roundy? What number? Im from Iowa also. Tom

Nope, you have set them up to steal your cars.

I'll probably be lambasted and called some sort of lie-burr-al for saying this, but I think you did the right thing. Kids get held responsible for their actions; despite "diminished responsibility" doctrine, kids' parents get to pay for damage. Seems only fair.

And it seems that, by offering to show them some wrenching on the race car and a chance to get greasy and bust some knuckles, you're taking these potential enemies and offering them a chance to become friends.

Of course, there are some who will insist that you should've held out for jail time for the kids instead of offering then "merely" the option of restitution and what will no doubt be characterized as allowing the guilty folks to sit in a circle with you and sing "Kum-Bah-Yah," until they get the chance to vandalize your place again. But I think you did the right thing...so by associating my name with your actions, you KNOW there'll be no LES than 8 or 10 folks who'll tell you what you did was wrong.

I think ya done good! Hoss

In my current state of wife, kids, mortgage, car payment, college loans, rat race, etc... Would I really have to break windows to get to wrench on your race car? That seems so destructive. I could loiter or something.

Gawd, I miss those days. I still wrench on my tractor and my 97 F350 PSD, but I just want to work on something completely impractical.

I am going to rebel this June on the Hot Rod Power Tour. No kids, just tire smoke, hot cars, and long semi-sober nights in the hotel parking lot bench racing or perhaps quite sober wrenching on some unlucky fellas ride so he could continue in the morning. Last time on PT I was under an Ultima GTR, a Vette, a GN and some others I cannot recall. Some crazy Aussies come to mind. A man named Leo Lamagio saved our hides when we blew the rearend. If you meet Leo down in NC tell him I said "Hello".

Get ready Visa, you and me's going for a ride....

Aaron

I think you did the right thing. Stan

Well, you can come out to our farm and help wrench on stuff to get it ready to go. I Took the front axel off our 1855 yesterday to rebush the pivot pin and the back support for the wishbone on the axel. The pin on the wishbone was worn so I had to weld it up and use an angle grinder on it because it's nothing that'd be practical to machine.

Now after I got it back on today, I decided that the bushings where the spindles go in the tubes are shot so I should replace those also. I pulled the spindles out and they're worn too. I'll weld those up and turn them back down at work. Might have to take the axel back off to replace the bushings in the spindle tubes though. Atleast the lower ones.....

I still got a few other projects I need to do also. Gotta change the oil on my 1600 and dad's 285, and then start putting duals on the 1855 and 285. Couple flat tires on this & that, like our disk that we don't use too often, our Fox chopper with a 24" implement tire, our gravity box, and anything else that I haven't found yet.

Donovan from Wisconsin

calling the law on kids and pressing charges is so bad these days. my boy broke a back window out of a van. cops showed up asking if it was my boys i asked the boys right infront of the officer. both boys said no we dont know any thing about it. later that day i was talking to my boys and they said yes we broke the window last night. went to the police station made them fess up guess what both boys were chareged with felony do to that the window was more than $250. I paid for a new window and when my boys turn 21 they say the felony will go off there record if they apply to the state to have it removed. you done the right thing

You did the right thing.

IMCA Stock car , run at Hawkeye Downs .Havn't had it out for couple years , but might give it another shot this year . Pretty addictive , but eats up lots of time and $$$

Very few people realize the true consequences of a felony conviction, apparently it's not taught in school these days. I know a lot of young people (they work as temps for me at work) that have been convicted of a felony. They will likely be temps or on the dole the rest of their life. Most employers run criminal background checks on potential new hires and even if the juvinile records are sealed or removed, there is still a record that there was a problem, which is a red flag.
If those kids seem like they will learn from this, you have done them the biggest favor they could have and later in life they will come to really appreciate it.
A kid down the road from me didn't come around to good sense, (and his natural father advocated his poor behavior). His natural father doesn't even visit him at the state pen).

Sounds like you did the right thing and turned what could have been a very negative situation into somethign positive.

I think you did right. Instead of getting a bunch of bitter continuing criminals maybe they will realize the error of their "fun" and learn something positive too.

You're a good guy,a good man,thank-you.

Right Thing. Nice work

God lives within You , And Ican tell you are No ones FOOL ..Evil occurs in the abscence of God and his Teachings , and I feel You GOT IT MAN !.. And You are willing to teach the rest of Us by EXAMPLe............SALUTE

That is the exact way I would handle it.. Kids these days need to be responsible for their actions, but know that people are willing to forgive and even help show them the right track to live.

I compliment you for your way of handling this situation.

Stan you should run for the Chief Justices job because this is the first common sense I have seen in years.One day these kids will tell their kids about how you helped save their life and remember what goes around comes around.

KUDOS to You Bryan... A very nice way to handle that Situation!! Larry KF4LKU

Not only did you do the right thing, but the lawers don't get any $$ out of it! Wish we had more of your type around. Thanks.

them boys need to spend couple of days putting hay in the haymound this august for free.

Hopefully they have indeed learned their lesson, I also hope maybe it will encourage at least one of them to possibly pursue becoming a mechanic. I don't know if you are a veteran, I am NOT, but should have served. I had my chance and regret not serving, but what I am getting at is that the service will train you if you have the basics, especially as regards mechanics. You might point the kids in that direction also. It will change them from kids into men. DOUG

Sounds like they got the easy way out with you. Worst case scenario is you would put them in Juvie and sue the parents. Sounds like you're doing your part and trying to keep things real and down to earth. I like your methodology but beware of parents cutting the deal.

make em work it off by doing your yard work for a summer.RICK

Bryan, I think you did good. Making them come back with the parents and forced to clean up their handy work is good punishment. Offering the chance to help work on a race car is good too.

Very good story.Seems everything fell into place.Thats the way to handle things.With the parents blessings and everyone is happy.No one went to jail no suits and the boys really learned a lesson.Just like the old days.This kind of justice works belive me been there..R.M. IN AL