A homeowner fed up with neighbours' children repeatedly entering their garden took matters into their own hands by planting berry bushes, but the move has sparked a debate online about whether they went too far.
Planting a natural barrier
The homeowner, sharing on Reddit, explained they planted rows of blackberry and raspberry bushes along the two sides of their garden bordering the driveway. Behind them, they planted strawberries and tomatoes, meaning anyone wanting to reach the fruit would have to deliberately walk through the bushes or go past the side of the house. For a couple of weeks, the plan seemed to work.
The children still played on the driveway but stopped venturing into the garden until berry season arrived.
Confrontation and police involvement
The homeowner claimed they caught the boys picking and eating raspberries, then walked them home and told their mum they considered it theft. They said: "I told their mum I caught them stealing (that's how I see it even though it's fruit) and that I'd call the cops next time." The mum dismissed the complaint, telling them to "grow up" and took the boys inside, but the warning didn't have the desired effect.
A few days later, the homeowner found the boys and their dad in the middle of the garden picking berries. Instead of confronting them, they quietly called the police and filmed the incident. Around 10 minutes later, officers arrived and caught the family still picking fruit. Police told the neighbours they were trespassing and that taking the berries amounted to theft, and asked if the homeowner wanted to press charges.
Although they decided not to press charges, they have since arranged for another security camera to be installed overlooking the front garden and driveway. The homeowner added: "If I ever catch any of them again, the cops will be called and possible charges will follow."
Mixed reactions online
The update divided opinion online. Some believed the homeowner should have been more patient. One person said: "Yes the kid's are dumb and unruly, however you would be a***hole if you intentionally put cactus where children could get hurt. Not just these kids but what about other kids just walking by? That happened to my three-year-old when we were out for a walk, his balance is terrible and he brushed up against cactus in front of someone's house, cost me $100 ER visit and a little boy in pain for a week."
Another user said: "You're not wrong but don't do it. First of all, that probably the kind of thing you'll need your landlord's permission for. It could also potentially create liability for you and/or your landlord if one of the kids is hurt by the bushes (even if the kids are on your property)." While a third added: "Their parents are lazy and sound like they just want to make you a free babysitter - 'Boys will be boys'."
