The best way to protect yourself from this crime, or from being held financially responsible for the acts of your kids, is to know where your children are, what they are doing, and whom their friends are. Kids are very tech-savvy, and use the latest means to communicate. We have had numerous cases where middle and high-school aged kids have made clandestine plans using their home computer and instant-messaging programs (AIM, Yahoo Messenger, etc.) to communicate with their friends, unbeknownst to their parents (no phones ringing in the middle of the night.) They sneak out of the house and meet up to go and commit all sorts of crimes. This is not only illegal, but it is very dangerous.

• Talk with your kids and encourage them to tell you about any problems with other kids.
• Monitor your child's instant messages.
• Don't put computers with Internet access in their bedrooms.
• Lock the doors to the house and set alarms when you go to bed.
• Make a habit of checking on the kids, no matter what age, in the middle of the night, just to make sure they are where they are supposed to be (especially when hosting sleepovers.) Let them know that you are checking.
• Check your vehicles for new damage or signs of being involved in vandalism - Mud on tires or wheel-wells, baseball bats with gouges or glass in them, egg cartons, knives or other sharp objects that are out of place in a car, cans of spray paint or shaving cream (yes shaving cream and eggs damage paint.)

If you suspect that your kids have been out vandalizing property, or committing any other crimes, you can contact the Police Department Juvenile Unit, or Troy Youth Assistance for advice.

Juvenile Unit 248-524-3451

Youth Assistance - 248-823-5095