Funny you should mention the cement! I tried that. A week later a car hit it and dumped the entire contraption into the ground. I'm positive it caused damage to the car but I still had to pay for my mailbox again.

As for the typical "if you lived by me and spoke off key to my child much less threw something his way I would kick your inmature thoughtless ass, no wonder the kids baseball your mailbox sounds like you deserve it" that's usually the answer I get from unruly kids parents. Their kids can do no wrong and you better not try to defend your dog or mailbox or whatever. I do fine on my own to include dealing with the parents afterwards. I moved in about 6 months ago and the mailboxes have been hit for many years. Since I have not had the pleasure of meeting these fine outstanding citizens it must be a deep seated grudge for me to deserve this before I ever moved in.

Ray, In a perfect world we could speak to the kids' parents and it would be taken care of. I can tell you from experience that just b/c a cop shows up at the door doesn't mean it gets results. I can't tell you how many times I've been cussed out and accused of harrassing these poor hoodlums as they did nothing wrong. It happens almost daily. When you have scumbag parents, how do you think the kids are going to turn out?

The funny thing is, many a parent who drives a lexus, mercedes etc are just as quick to trash the bad news bearing cop so don't believe it's just a trailer park thing. Personally I think Eric was just kidding but I see his type of frustration all the time.

We had a local hoodlum who terrorized a neighborhood and the neighbors got together and pulled a black bag job on him. No more problem after that. I guess when dads in jail and mom's a drunk someone has to teach junior some manners. Although it was illegal it worked. No-one went to jail b/c the neighbors had their SH%# together alibi-wise. The cops really enjoyed the break from taking all those burglary and criminal mischief reports too.

As some others have already said - video tape it. Then call the Police and press charges. The parents are stupid and won't respond to any else by what you've said.

Don't back down and push the courts to do something about it.

sometimes your local k9 officer is the best route to try,
call up the local county sheriff dept say around 8:30 pm,most
of the true handlers seem to prefer night shift,
dont ask to speak to a k9 handler just leave your phone #
with intake and ask to have the k9 officer give you a call
dont leave a message except to call or the message usually wont get relayed at all.9outta 10 times the handler will call
and yes he or she will be more apt to follow the situation
through and their isnt anything wrong or sneeky about talking
to the k9 officer instead of a regular patrol officer whose probally three calls behind anyways

If it were my yard I would hotwire the top of the fence (high, like for cattle) and run it around the inside. This way when the little brats reach over, they get zapped. HARD.

Then you tell LE that the fence is there to keep your dogs from jumping at the kids.

No Boobytrapping involved, just responsible dog containment....

Also do what has been suggested and get it on video and push it.

First off: Eric, I admire your measured restraint in responding to Ray's comments. You kept your cool in the face of unsolicited insult much better than I could have.

As to the thread. I have a privacy fence with what I believe are called "lean-ins". As the name implies, they are an extension of the fence that angle in at roughly 45 degrees. This wont help your bratty neighbors be less bratty, but would stop your dogs from killing them.

I like Carol's idea about a hotwire, and in a similar vein might suggest actual barbed wire to discourage the human climbers. Barb wire could have the added affect of being so threatening looking that your adult neighbors are more compelled to comply with keeping their kids under control just so you take the scary barbed wire down.

Just a thought....I would research and find out what the laws would be if the kids fell in the yard with the dogs.........

Most municipalities forbid putting up barbed wire in residential areas. Of course that is where most stockade fences are. My original suggestion re the electric fence wire is probably the best idea for a suburban area if you and the neighbors cant get along. Don't forget the obligatory danger signs for the hotwire.

Howard