My 7 year old Robbed today!!!!!

[squashysu]

My 7 year old son with Aspergers, snuck off today to the park while i was planting out my caulis, he was gone no more than 10 mins when he came back shouting that these kids had knicked his bike off him!!!

Got in the car and drove around, called the police, the park is 2 mins from my house and he is only allowed to go with his big sis or other friends in the street, anyway he went to the park and 5 boys approached him and tried to get him to sell his bike for 2 rotten bikes, then he wouldnt so they said

"give us your bike or we will stab you" - OMG i cant believe this!! the police were in the area looking for them, these kids were between 12-14, what is happening in this world????

I am so gutted for my son and the bike is replacable, but he isnt, as he has Aspergers, he just took it in his stride and now appears not to really care anymore (thats his AS for you!!), but i am devastated that...he may now have learnt not to sneek off to the park, but he has to learn visually.

If i ever see these kids, i will personally get hold of them and sorry cant say but you could imagine.....my poor boy sees no danger and thinks everyone is lovely and why shouldnt he, these were also kids.

I have written to the local paper, asking the parents of these kids to ask why them came home with a £160 new BMX bike!!!!! and how they think this behaviour is acceptable.

Sorry - i am just so upset for my son and what he has gone through.

[di]

really dont know what to say;prob nothing i can say can make it better,just sorry for you your boy & lots of expletives for the others involved!i find it really scary how the world is going;a friend lives 5min walk away from us,when she had drinks considered getting taxi home as it meant walking passed the park where the less desirable(prob due to lack of parental concern)teens hangout till all hours.as for hoping for the parents to have a conscience?>?i know its unfair to generalize but but they prob patting theyre kids on the back for a good catch as we speak! that said not only do i dread mine getting picked on but worse falling into said crowd!all the best for you & your boy,hope the police can sort something out.my 3 nephews have aspergers,the eldest is 12 & my sis has spent the year encouraging him to walk home from school on his own,i know she finds it tough but has realised that she has to sometimes give him the independance,.just make sure the anger stays focussed on the brats that took his bike & no guilt for you.take care & good luck tracing the bike.x

[Alice]

That's just dreadful Squashysue. I felel upset when I hear these things. What is going on ! Anyway, I hope you get over the upset and feel better, and that your son is OK.
I don't think the police do much about these things - they see it as low level crime rather than the scourge on society which it is. I would phone them every day and ask them what enquiries they are making and what progress is being made. So sorry for your upset.

[squashysu]

thanks

i feel so guilty that he managed to snuck out past me and that i wasnt watching him more, we wont get the bike back and i dont really care about the bike, but it just gets me that you cant trust anyone anymore, as i said me son is ok and thats the main thing, we live in a nice area with nice kids around us, these kids invaded my life and my sons life, he was just playing as all kids should......

its been a sad day, but we wont let these thugs beat us, at least i am teaching my kids respect and honesty, i just with others would do the same

SS

[Two_Sheds]

That's awful, I'm really sorry.

Of course, the police came straight away? They went and found the thieves didn't they? Oh well, at least you get a free Victim Support leaflet.

Harrass your MP about gangs of feral kids, and make them provide some proper policing. WriteToThem - Email or fax your Councillor, MP, MEP, MSP or Welsh, NI, London Assembly Member for free

[HeyWayne]

Really sorry to hear that Sue, you must be really upset.

I have to say though, this is nothing new. When I was about 10 I had an old Raleigh Budgie bike - those of a certain age may remember what I mean, anyway my dad respryaed it for me with new stickers and everything, I was very proud. He had also recently bought me a Matchbox Porsche 911 turbo which I carried everywhere with me. Whilst out on the bike once I ventured through a little alleyway (as I had done everyday walking to school for a couple of years) and was pulled off the bike by some older kids. They took my Porsche from me and scraped it down one of those concrete fenceposts - scratching all the paintwork. They told me that if I told on them they would "get me". I never saw the bike again.

Then a few years later when I was about 14, my friend and I went out on our new mountain bikes (a new phenomenon at the time). We stopped near a reggae festival that was going on at the time for icecream. As we stood eating them a group of older teenagers surrounded us and asked to have a go on our bikes. I said no, and they forced my mate off of his so I rode off as fast as I could. Not knowing the area I didn't realise that I'd gone in a loop and there was an alleyway that cut through the loop. I was knocked off my bike and again, never saw the bike again.

The police got involved, I went to an ID parade (not behind 2 way glass like in the films - I had to walk round a table whilst the dude and some other stand-ins pretended to read papers). After that, the dude in question was waiting outside my school for weeks. I was chased several times - I became one of the fastest kids in the school as a result.

I don't know what Asperges is I'm sorry to say, but I feel for your boy having been there a few times myself.

Hope you are all able to move on soon and put this behind you. No crime is nice, especially when it happens to innocent kids.

[jackie j]

So sorry for your son at least he wasnt harmed in any way and like you say a bike is replacable, with so many stabbings etc everybody needs to be on their gaurd at all times.
I let my 12 yr old daughter go out with her friends to the local park and into town, so far nothing has happened but I worry all the time she is gone and ring her on her phone to check she is ok.
Years ago I left my sons bike leaning against the wall in our garden opposite the breakfast room window and it was taken from under my nose, I was there at the time, It was never found.
I have told my daughter to let anyone that threatens her to let them take any Item cos it can be replaced.
Hope they catch whoever it was.

[Flummery]

What a sad tale. Sorry to hear it. At least your lovely son is not taking it badly but I can see why it has upset you - I would be both upset and angry.

[shirlthegirl43]

Words fail me. Thank goodness your son appears unhurt by the experience. Don't beat yourself up over it, you can't have your eye on your child 100% of the time - it is impossible.

[BarleySugar]

I'm so sorry that your son and you have had such an experience, but at least he is safe so do not feel guilty that he slipped off. It sounds as in in the 'normal' course of things, it wouldn't have been a problem in your area. Some time ago now, 10 years I suppose, my sons 8 and 10, had gone to the local chippie to get dinner for us all. It wasn't far, no major roads etc, but some teenagers accosted them on the way home and stole the dinner. Fish and chips was a major treat, and they were so upset, especially as I didn't have the money to get replacements. It was the first time we'd had any trouble, usually the area was very quiet and we'd felt safe to let them go shopping for us on their own. I was just thankful they were unhurt.
Try not to dwell on it too much, best wishes, Ann

[squashysu]

thanks everyone for all your kind words and support

last night the guilt was horrible, couldnt sleep just kept looking at him in his bed, thinking thank god he is safe!

the police rang this morning and are coming to see him, also the newspaper rang and they are doing an article and a photo (hope they dont want me in it).

he is fine, so that is the main thing. HW, Aspergers is a form of Autism, he can talk etc, but everything is literal to him and he sees no danger whatsoever, he thinks everyone is his friend! He just loves people and older kids especially. He loves being outdoors and riding around, also the bike was a reward for getting a gold certificate at school this year as he has struggled so much the last year with reading and writing, he was really proud of it.

I wont let these little gits get to me or my son and woe betide them if they ever cross my path!!!!

(HW - go get the Dunstable Gazette next wed - you may see us in there - also sorry about your past incidents, i bet they wouldnt mess with you now)

I believe in Karma and what goes around comes around ! one day they will get their comeuppance!

Thanks again everyone.

SS & Charlie x

[Novice Gardener]

OMG, I'm so sorry to hear about what happened to your lad. I hope I'm not being insensitive here, but I'm glad he's kind of brushed it off and not dwelling on it. It must have been a huge shock to you too. My eldest lad was mugged and beaten unconscious and left for dead in the road last year. His phone and trainers were stolen and he suffered serious head/facial injuries as well as damage to his knees. He's fully recovered now, but I'm still finding it very hard to relax when he's out with his friends, and I'm constantly texting him to make sure he's safe. His attackers were never caught, but as someone else on here mentioned, he did get a letter from victim support fat lot of good that did Hugs to your son, and hopefully if the paper do a piece on him, maybe his bike will get returned.

[janeyo]

What a terrible story, I hope the boys who pinched it fall off it and break their bones.
Nuff said from me except I hope your little man is ok and no after effects.

janeyo

[Headfry]

I just don't understand this world anymore?
I am so sorry that this has happened to you both. Me next in line to bash the little thugs...... oh if only I could! (sorry but it makes me so angry)
My love to you both
Sue
xx

[squashysu]

thanks again to everyone, you are all stars and made me feel better.

Novice Gardener, i am so sorry and angry for what happened to your boy, thats terrible, but charlie is the sort of boy who just gets on with the next day, thats how is!

Janeyo - bring it on, you and me take on the thugs, believe you and me if i ever catch any of them, they will pay, i not exactly a small lady!

We are waiting for the Police now, but the paper has been and taken his pic to go in and he stood there with his best sad/angry face on, he had to act this as he was trying to smile, bless him.

We will survive - charlie now says he "hated" that bike ha ha ! he wants a new one withe better jumping techniques - typical lol x