What would you do about. . .

[scoobydoo]

Pranksters. So I have kid(s) in the neighborhood who think it is funny to ring my doorbell at 2 o'clock in the morning. The first time I thought ha, ha. . . that was funny. Now I am just getting PO'd because it is waking my kids up. Any ideas how to end this or catch the hooligans?

[ijen0311]

Wait up for them...

[Watchdog]

Originally Posted by scoobydoo

Pranksters. So I have kid(s) in the neighborhood who think it is funny to ring my doorbell at 2 o'clock in the morning. The first time I thought ha, ha. . . that was funny. Now I am just getting PO'd because it is waking my kids up. Any ideas how to end this or catch the hooligans?

Get Shaggy and the gang, then set up a stakeout in the Mystery Machine.

[JimSnyder]

those darn "meddling kids!"

[redshirt1957]

Motion detectors on your front porch lights.

[cyberone]

Take some scotch tape and put a thumb tac threw it so the point is is comming out of the non sticky part and then put it on your doorbell. That might be fun :) but then again you shouldn't listen to me Im a bit evil ;}

[SLS]

One of my neighbors installed motion detectors on their sprinklers to scare the deer away and keep them from eating the plants....I don't think the kids would like it either!
Scott

[East Bay Rider]

Big dog

[Jet]

I could suggest a few nasty paybacks, but everyone has their own way of dealing w/things. Here is a mild & harmless solution -

I can only suggest that you play pranks on the pranksters as well. Remove the door bell button & replace w/ a door bell like button that will give out an electric shock to the pusher (just ensure that the device can be disconnected during the day). You will loose use of the doorbell for a few days or even 2-3 weeks, but the 2AM "ding dong ditch" will come to a stop.

[abigsecret]

I'd have a friend police officer go and have a talk with them...

[Zephyr]

Just wire an on/off switch into your doorbell circuit. Very easy to do with a standard light switch, or a toggle switch. A fancier way would be to activate the doorbell with an automatic timer during the hours you want it working.

Ed

[keschete]

You Northerners are too tame...

I live in the South.....wait up with a shot gun and when they ring the bell....well they won't be comming back.

Seriously, kids in our area don't do this...they know they could get shot, especially during hurricane season.....

[Watchdog]

Originally Posted by keschete

You Northerners are too tame...

I live in the South.....wait up with a shot gun and when they ring the bell....well they won't be comming back.

Seriously, kids in our area don't do this...they know they could get shot, especially during hurricane season.....

Hmmmm . . . I won't be selling Girl Scout cookies in your neighborhood.

[keschete]

Originally Posted by kingkongkelley

Hmmmm . . . I won't be selling Girl Scout cookies in your neighborhood.

We don't leave for hurricanes. For good reason, I would have had 100k worth of damage for Gustav. We stay and we mitigate damages...and we go without power for a week or more...it kinda makes you pissy

I live an hour south of New Orleans....So we don't take kindly to people messing with our stuff/house/generator...

If you try to steal a generator down here, or anything else, you are taking your life in your hands. It really helps with crime! I have never had a break in or any of my cars vandalized

[Watchdog]

Originally Posted by keschete

We don't leave for hurricanes. For good reason, I would have had 100k worth of damage for Gustav. We stay and we mitigate damages...and we go without power for a week or more...it kinda makes you pissy

I live an hour south of New Orleans....So we don't take kindly to people messing with our stuff/house/generator...

If you try to steal a generator down here, or anything else, you are taking your life in your hands. It really helps with crime! I have never had a break in or any of my cars vandalized

I was totally joking with you--since I am a born Southerner myself (first 21 years of my life in the Commonwealth). I truly miss the land of "sweet tea" and "ma'am" and "ya'll" and "warter." Best region of the country, IMHO of course.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by cyberone

Take some scotch tape and put a thumb tac threw it so the point is is comming out of the non sticky part and then put it on your doorbell. That might be fun :) but then again you shouldn't listen to me Im a bit evil ;}

Yesssssssssssssssssssssss.....that's exactly what I would do!!!

[keschete]

Originally Posted by kingkongkelley

I was totally joking with you--since I am a born Southerner myself (first 21 years of my life in the Commonwealth). I truly miss the land of "sweet tea" and "ma'am" and "ya'll" and "warter." Best region of the country, IMHO of course.

Hehehe, don't worry, I didn't take offense.

Just 'splainin what happens to criminals round here

[rajurama]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

Motion detectors on your front porch lights.

Originally Posted by cyberone

Take some scotch tape and put a thumb tac threw it so the point is is comming out of the non sticky part and then put it on your doorbell. That might be fun :) but then again you shouldn't listen to me Im a bit evil ;}

both seem like a cool option! well i have a confession to make i used to do that in my schools days too! but never at 2AM...!

[Mike B]

1. Install CCTV security camaras all around the premier of your yard.
2. Hide up at the highest point in your tallest tree in your front yard with a cell phone (to call the cops),
3. Get a BIG St. Bernard, and put "beware of dog" signs all around the property.
4. Install an electric high voltage fence around the perimeter of your front yard.
5. Put in land mines every 2-4 feet in your front yard.


lol Actually honestly, one night I'd just stay up extra late, and see what happens. If they come back, nab them, and call the PO PO.

[Lion]

As stated before wait up an catch them in the act and turn them over to the police. This should cure them of their mischief ways!!!

[AWATCH]

You got to be careful with pranksters because if you do anything too drastic, there might be retaliation. Also you don't really want to hurt the little so and so's after all we were kids once [long time ago for me].
At my work place we have one of those signs that you can change the letters and several days in a row the wording was changed in the middle of the night. At first the message that was left was funny, then it got to be a pain......I wrote a large note and taped it to the sign on the last time and we have not been bothered since....the note said... "THE FIRST TIME IT WAS FUNNY, THE SECOND TIME IT WAS A PAIN, THE THIRD TIME WE WERE UPSET, THE NEXT TIME ITS JAIL TIME - SMILE YOU ARE ON CAMARA...

[Idle Swede]

Originally Posted by scoobydoo

Pranksters. So I have kid(s) in the neighborhood who think it is funny to ring my doorbell at 2 o'clock in the morning. The first time I thought ha, ha. . . that was funny. Now I am just getting PO'd because it is waking my kids up. Any ideas how to end this or catch the hooligans?

Are you sure it's kids?

[scoobydoo]

Thanks guys & gals for all the great ideas. . . some maybe more forceful than others but all good ideas. Well, my wife believes the prankster(s) are kid(s). I guess I will find out when I catch them.

[shandy]

Wire the doorbell to the mains power

[gmh1013]

Originally Posted by keschete

You Northerners are too tame...

I live in the South.....wait up with a shot gun and when they ring the bell....well they won't be comming back.

Seriously, kids in our area don't do this...they know they could get shot, especially during hurricane season.....

I would wait up for them and stick a Model 29 in their face.....they wont be back.

[theloxmyth]

Originally Posted by Elkcub

Just wire an on/off switch into your doorbell circuit. Very easy to do with a standard light switch, or a toggle switch. A fancier way would be to activate the doorbell with an automatic timer during the hours you want it working.

Ed

You think like a loxmyth, Ed!

[Goodwatch]

I don't know what kind of doorbell you have but ours is combined doorbell/intercom affair. I installed a little switch that shuts off the bell (this is from the time I worked night shifts). They can ring my bell 'till they drop down. I won't hear it. Family and friends will call on the phone and if there is an emergency in the middle of the night they people ring the bell on our appartment door, as the intercom is on the combined entrance.

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Capture them on video, there are some really cheap options available if you don't want to invest a lot of money. For as little as $100.00 you can get a system up and running.

I know where Kaya is coming from, but since they are only ringing your doorbell, I don't think you would have legal justification for shooting kids.