Was I being to hard on him? I hate it when people damage my car

[RAPID_BA]

Yesterday I was mowing my lawn and had my xr8 parked across the road, from the bAckyard I noticed A young boy crouched down near my rims. I immediately went running after him, he was off down the street on his scooter, I gave chase and caught him within about 200 meters, I grabbed him by the shirt and we walked back to the car to inspect. He had taken off the Crome valve cap but it was on the road. He denied it and said he dropped his wallet, I said what is your mums number I was going to call her and tell her of her boys activities. He starts crying and pleads and says he would never do it again. I told him I would not let him go until I speak to his mum. He cried and pleaded, I told him that if he tells me the truth I'd let him go, he admitted guilt and I made him promise me he would not steal or damage property ever agAin. I also told him that if I see him around here I would grab him and this time I'd call his mum. I'll tell you he was one very scared young boy. He would have been 10 years old

I know it's only a Crome Valve cap but they need to be taught a lesson.

Was I too hard on him. Thinking back. I should have given him $2 and said here go buy a valve cap but if I ever see him again I'd knock his head off.

[Fled74]

No you weren't. These kids need to be taught to respect other people's property - the younger the better.

[DJM83]

I agree mate i dont think you were too harsh, but in the 'sue em' world we live in we have to be carefull

[MY70GT]

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

Yesterday I was mowing my lawn and had my xr8 parked across the road, from the bAckyard I noticed A young boy crouched down near my rims. I immediately went running after him, he was off down the street on his scooter, I gave chase and caught him within about 200 meters, I grabbed him by the shirt and we walked back to the car to inspect. He had taken off the Crome valve cap but it was on the road. He denied it and said he dropped his wallet, I said what is your mums number I was going to call her and tell her of her boys activities. He starts crying and pleads and says he would never do it again. I told him I would not let him go until I speak to his mum. He cried and pleaded, I told him that if he tells me the truth I'd let him go, he admitted guilt and I made him promise me he would not steal or damage property ever agAin. I also told him that if I see him around here I would grab him and this time I'd call his mum.

I know it's only a Crome Valve cap but they need to be taught a lesson.

Was I too hard on him. Thinking back. I should have given him $2 and said here go buy a valve cap but if I ever see him again I'd knock his head off.

I would have done the exact same thing.....it's about respect or in this case the lack of respect for other peoples property. I guarantee this kid will think for a long while before attempting such a thing again. It's the lousy parenting today that is responsible i think. We have become too liberal and permissive with children, and they don't fear any consequences for their actions. I give you thumbs up for what you did.......

[|||]

what is it with kids & valve caps? do they put them on their bikes? i stick to black plastic ones now to avoid the expense.

[Road_Warrior]

It's your car, not his. The kid doesn't know it but you've actually taught him an important life lesson that he probably won't appreciate until he is older.

[MotherNatureVer2]

/me gives you a standing ovation.

About time we show our youngins about discipline and respect. You have not harmed him, quiet the opposite in my books.

[Muzz Landau]

I also agree with the actions you took. It may be enough to keep this kid from doing something like this again.
You did a good job to catch a kid on a scooter. I don't think i could have done it.

[XR5-Boy]

Sounds like something i'd do. Had this guy in a shopping centre carpark who thought it was a good idea to be kicking a soccer ball into some make shift goals with cars all around (and mine not too far away). He had hit 5 cars in the process with the ball and I went and had a chat with him.

He played the whole 'I can do what i want' card. So, i thought to myself, i'll fix this little bugger up.

Shopping centre security were askign him to leave shorlty after. He left.

[Mr Hardware]

Who here wasn't once the 10 year old boy?
Its just a part of growing up, having some angry bear-man in your grille cos you nicked his vavlecaps or turned the magnetic signs on his car upside down.

[zdcol71]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

Who here wasn't once the 10 year old boy?
Its just a part of growing up, having some angry bear-man in your grille cos you nicked his vavlecaps or turned the magnetic signs on his car upside down.

I was (10 once) and have had the "angry bear- man in my grille", he's also dragged me along to front mum and dad, now that's the lessen.
You did the right thing OP, but I think a lot of kids are pretty well versed in "crocodile tears" these days. I think that a lot of them are also well versed in the art of revenge and retribution, so you need to be careful how much wind you can put up their young skirts

[LOCO XP]

Stupid kid... razor scooters don't have any use for valve caps

[XR037]

No doubt you did the right thing HULK_BA. I would of done the same thing, these kids need to be taught a lesson. Woudnt want anyone stuffing up with my car eithers. Good on you for actually chasing before you inspected, lol

[gtfpv]

you handled it well .

[ebxr8240]

Soon to be a knock at your door with his father wanting revenge for you assaulting his angle .. Lol...Been there done that... Still would do the same too...

[Jason[98.EL]]

agree handled nicely

Jason

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

Soon to be a knock at your door with his father wanting revenge for you assaulting his angle .. Lol...Been there done that... Still would do the same too...

LOL . there is always the weigh up approach . hmmmm shout and let the boy go . then buy a new cap for 2 bucks . but the boy learnt nothing .
or do as you did , which the best case scenario taught the boy a life lesson for the good of humanity , but risking the cost of a foot sized dent in your car and tooth repair off the old boy who doesnt think the kid done nuffink wrong .

[RedHotGT]

Yup... +1 for sure...

Too many youngsters today live with the "I want it, and I want it now" mentality... with everything (job, car, house, valve cap, anything)...

It starts younger than 10 too...

My eldest is 6... grade prep... and the kids that are at school with him... makes my blood boil...
My kids get away with a bit as well... I like them to make mistakes, and try to learn from them...

I agree that the kid from OP will seriously think twice before even considering pinching something - even as small as valve caps...

[sleek7]

Not too hard at all, the kid needed a harsh reality check to teach him some respect of other peoples property - you may look and admire but do not touch.
Well handled I think, but as others have said you really need to be careful these days of how you handle a situation like this as it can really backfire on you if your not careful.

[Fev]

Good on ya. Rep points for you!

[aussiblue]

Some tyre experts will tell you the caps are what is meant to keeps the air in the tyre and stop it leaking out the valves when you hit curbs and that all valves leak slightly etc; they claim valves are just a way of putting air into the tyre not keeping it there. Others argue it's is the valves job to keep the air in the tyre and the caps just stops dust, dirt and moisture getting into the valve so it fails. In any event, its arguably dangerous to run without caps or remove them from a tyre so he had it coming. Unfortunately, I suspect many parents of such kids rather than acting appropriately would think you were overreacting and were bullying their kids.

I have to confess I dreamed/planned/schemed that if I finally caught the approx 17 year old teenager who I suspected had regularly been stealing my locking chrome caps outside a sporting venue (and in the process several times had twisted a valve stem so its seal at the rim broke and I ended up with a flat tyre) by surprise at the scene I would kick him in the **** while he was bent over my tyre so he ended up with a split lip when he banged his face on the wheel. He used to ride around the car park with his mates arrogantly juggling the stolen caps in his hands as we left after my children's game. Despite all attempts to catch him by surprise, it never happened and I later learnt that there were three of them, they were armed with aluminium baseball bats and that they threatened a woman who had caught them meddling with her car so perhaps it was a good thing I never caught them at the scene.

[aussiblue]

The Michelen man here http://www.michelinman.com/tire-care...pressure-tips/ says:

The valve cap is also an important item. Buy high-quality valve caps that can help contain the tire’s air, should the core of the valve fail for any reason. Valve caps also keep out moisture, which could freeze and in turn depress the valve core, causing air loss. The cap also keeps out dust and dirt particles, which could also interfere with the proper operation of the valve core and cause air loss

[aussiblue]

And the Bridgestone man:

After checking pressures, ensure that valve caps are replaced as these are the primary seal. Use only sealing-type valve caps.

http://www.bridgestone.com.au/tyres/...are/facts.aspx

[deesun]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

Who here wasn't once the 10 year old boy?
Its just a part of growing up, having some angry bear-man in your grille cos you nicked his vavlecaps or turned the magnetic signs on his car upside down.

Difference is that there is a cost and inconvenience involved in one antic and theres just a little fun in the other. One is theft the other not. This week valve caps, next week hubcaps then its the wheels. I'm with the OP but maybe not quite so angry as he has said he was.
Not quite so sure little ten year old would go home and tell mum and dad he was caught stealing and some big angry bear man came out and scared the brown stuff out of him.

[aussiblue]

and here's and interesting theory http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/4283670

Q: You mentioned in a previous column that the tire valve cap will keep the air from being released by centrifugal force at high speeds. Since that is an outward force, and an inward force is required to unseat a tire valve, how can that be true?

A: Because the tire valves usually point inwards towards the center of the wheel. And moving the valve outwards is what opens it. Which is exactly what the centrifugal force provides.

[RAPID_BA]

I think I should have contacted his parents. At the end of the day he didn't really pay a price ( except being scared out of his mind ). He either learnt his lesson or he will think he was wronged by me and look to exact revenge.

I certainly couldn't whack him, imagine going to court for assault and defend it against he tried to steal my valve caps.

It's a pet hate of mine, stealing valve caps is the same mentality as keying cars etc etc, respect for others property.

[fordv8!]

you did the right thing!!

[paule11]

Had the same thing happen followed the kid home knocked on his door his dad was there told him what happened his son denied it. I said to this kid I followed you down the road saw you do it where is it he handed it back his dad who was in the army said what have I told you he was ****ed off said how ****ed off he was .
Told his son to take his bmx to his car .
As I drove off his son is putting his bmx in the back of his dads car guess he was grounded for a while.

[Iggypoppin']

Yeah you did the right thing mate. I remember I was at a shopping centre and some kids where messing around with trolleys near my old ba xr6. I walked over and politely requested they play on trolleys elsewhere, as my car was very close to them. They all told me where to go, so I gathered two of my mates and came back to ask them again-firmly this time. They wouldn't have been any older than 14, and I was 20 at the time, mates where around my age too, and it was a case of watching them pick up their bags and bolt. Much better than damage occurring or any violence.
Well done.

[rancidpunx]

Good on you mate. Parents are shocking compared to how i remember my parents. There was a kid jumping up and down on the parents car whilst i was at work recently and they said nothing. They were also ****ed off when i told the kid NO when he was touching the ute.

As someone said, kids dont have any respect for anything or anyone. We live in a world that frowns upon child discipline.

I would also be thinking about who owns the little ****, you may find your car keyed and a brick through your front window. Little Johnny is a little angel dont you know.