AITA for potentially traumatizing my neighbors children after they kept coming onto my property and trying to get into my house?

Every neighborhood has those kids—the ones who push boundaries, cause trouble, and seem to have parents who are blissfully unaware (or completely indifferent) to their behavior. Most of us just grit our teeth and deal with it. But what do you do when those kids aren’t just annoying, but actually trying to break into your house?

That’s the nightmare OP found themselves in when a trio of unsupervised boys trashed their yard, banged on their doors, and even attempted to pick the front door lock multiple times. Their mother? Zero concern—until OP finally decided to take action. A well-timed command to their protective (but well-trained) dogs sent the intruders scrambling back home—no harm done, just a lesson taught.

But now the mother is outraged and trying to paint OP as a menace to the neighborhood. The police saw the footage and didn’t take action, but the mother is still trying to keep the case open. So, is OP in the wrong for using a scare tactic to keep trespassers off their property, or did they just enforce boundaries the only way the kids would understand?

‘AITA for potentially traumatizing my neighbors children after they kept coming onto my property and trying to get into my house?’

Expert Analysis:

Legal Perspective: The Right to Defend Property

In most jurisdictions, homeowners have the legal right to protect their property from trespassers, but the extent of force they can use depends on the situation. According to Professor Sherry Colb, a legal scholar specializing in criminal law,

“A property owner has the right to deter intruders, but they must use reasonable force. The law generally does not protect intentional harm against children, even if they are trespassing.”

In OP’s case, the dogs never attacked the kids—they simply ran toward them, barking and stopping at the edge of the property. That’s well within the bounds of reasonable deterrence. However, if the mother insists on pressing charges, OP may need legal representation to emphasize that the children were committing a crime first.

Psychological Perspective: Why Some Parents Enable Bad Behavior

The mother’s response is also a prime example of deflection and entitlement. Instead of acknowledging her children’s behavior, she tried to shift blame onto OP. Dr. David Bredehoft, a psychologist specializing in entitled behavior, notes:

“Some parents believe the world should adjust to their children, rather than teaching their children to adjust to the world. This creates an environment where kids believe they can do no wrong, even when engaging in serious misconduct.”

In this case, the mother likely never disciplined her children, and when faced with the consequences, she chose to play the victim rather than hold them accountable.

What OP Should Do Next

File a police report for attempted breaking and entering – The kids attempted to pick the front door lock multiple times. That’s not just trespassing—it’s criminal activity. Filing a report helps establish a paper trail in case the mother tries legal retaliation.
Strengthen home security – The kids may not be deterred for long. Adding extra cameras, warning signs, and possibly motion-triggered lights can further discourage future incidents.
Ensure dog safety – Some Redditors raised a valid concern: if the mother can’t get OP in trouble legally, she might try to harm the dogs out of spite. Training the dogs not to eat random food and keeping a close eye on them is crucial.

Here’s how Reddit reacted to OP’s situation:

The overwhelming consensus? OP is not the a-hole. Many users pointed out that the children were actively trying to break into the house and the mother’s negligence was the real issue.

The biggest concern wasn’t whether OP was in the wrong—it was whether the mother would escalate things further. Many users advised OP to document everything and keep a close eye on the safety of their home and pets.