Dealing with ding dong ditchers?

Post Reply New Topic

For the past week this stupid kid has been ringing my doorbell really late at night and running. He'll do this three or four times a night. It wakes me up and pisses me off so badly every time that I can't go back to sleep for over an hour afterwards so it's really messing with my sleep schedule. I've tried telling my landlord but she says she can't do anything because I don't know who's doing it. How can I deal with this?

A friend of mine had an issue during the day while they were out with people and their apartment. They got a camera for the front door so that they could get proof. I don't know if it's a viable option for you or not but maybe consider doing that.

I can't install my own personal security system, but one of my friends recommended I put up one of those dummy cameras to scare them off. I half think that if I did that I'd just wake up to find it torn down or something, and since it wasn't a real camera I'd still have no proof.

The Dummy camera might work.

Maybe also considering having a light that you leave on in a room so that the kid is discouraged by the worry that someone might actually be up and not want to be caught.

Do what Mickey did:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX2gQZj3-NI

If you have a yard in front, can you install a sprinkler that is motion activated? At least the goof will get wet.

Do you have a window that overlooks where the door bell is being rung? You can just set a camera on a table/shelf/ledge to watch that spot. Nothing needs to actually be "installed" into the structure of your building. You can set it to be motion activated during the night and it will send video to your pc or your phone or both.
I don't know much yet as I am just starting my research myself but I personally know someone who just set it up as I have described and it worked wonderfully.

Ding Dong Ditchers made me laugh. In the UK this is known and Knock and Run.

Most wireless doorbells use a battery.
If you remove the battery before you go to bed, you wont get woken.

Just don't forget to put it back in, in the morning.
(And make sure you write down the orientation of the battery!!)

Someone said I should get some sticky tack and put a thumbtack over my doorbell. Is this a good idea? Could I get in trouble if he got his hand hurt on my doorbell?

I was just about to suggest this. A bit of tape and a tack or two will do. Just push the flat tacks through the tape from the sticky side & then stick it over the doorbell so the pointy business end(s) is sticking out.

He's going to be shocked, not actually hurt. He'll prick his finger once or twice, but that's about it. Diabetic kids prick their fingers several times a day to draw blood to test sugar levels - this kid can take a single prick to the finger. Then chances are pretty good that they'll stop doing it.

That's what I would do. They'll get bored and stop eventually.

Although I wouldn't advise it I chased the last kid that played ratatat ginger ( ding dong ditch ) at my house and scared the bejesus out of him , I'll doubt he do it again

If it's a wired door bell you can fit a in-line switch, the same type that's fitted to a table lamp.

Usually, all they want is a reaction, no reaction and they will lose interest.

As I hate opening the front door to anyone I'm not expecting, I simply do without a doorbell and ask people who I do know to text me or give me a missed call when they arrive - that way, I also get to screen out hawkers, salespeople and evangelists too.

Exactly. Anything else is playing the game they want you to play.

Refuse to play and they'll find someone else to torment.