# Homeowner charged for protecting home from vandels. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 17, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207 "2013-06-17T20:09:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/41 "2013-06-18T16:30:15Z")
In a rational society the parents would be spayed and neutered. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/42 "2013-06-18T16:31:31Z")
Come on, guys - kids will be kids! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/43 "2013-06-18T16:33:35Z")
As even Barney Fife found out, a citizen’s arrest is not a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/44 "2013-06-18T17:55:14Z")
The nitpicky part of my personality wants to point out that I think the OP was looking for vandal. A vandel is what a male backup singer for Martha Reeves would be called. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/45 "2013-06-18T17:58:30Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > The nitpicky part of my personality wants to point out that I think the OP was looking for vandal. A vandel is what a male backup singer for Martha Reeves would be called. The boys reportedly were singing _Heat Wave_ as they did their dirty work, though.? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/46 "2013-06-18T18:45:57Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Um, because that’s how insurance works? Although if it makes you feel any better, the parents will still end up paying in the form of increased future premiums. As will the homeowners and anyone else who has home insurance. Insurance is for when the thing that did the damage can’t pay. Like a storm or if nobody has been caught. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/47 "2013-06-18T19:09:14Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The boys reportedly were singing _Heat Wave_ as they did their dirty work, though.? Until they got [trapped in the closet.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowhere_to_Run_(Martha_and_the_Vandellas_song)) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/48 "2013-06-18T19:20:17Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Until they got [trapped in the closet.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowhere_to_Run_(Martha_and_the_Vandellas_song)) Kudos! I’m feeling a musical coming on (all proceeds to pay for the damages caused by the lil scamps). ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/49 "2013-06-18T19:48:04Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > There’s a good chance the owner wouldn’t want the little bastards and their idiot parents around “helping” with repairs. I sure as hell wouldn’t. > [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Um, because that’s how insurance works? Although if it makes you feel any better, the parents will still end up paying in the form of increased future premiums. Wouldn’t the _homeowner’s_ premiums go up, or is that just with car insurance? > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Virtually every word in the thread title is inaccurate. He didn’t own the home, and wasn’t charged for “protecting the home from vandals.” He was finished protecting the home. He was charged for threatening them with a weapon in order to force them into a closet. Well he caught them in the act of committing a felony; wouldn’t detaining them constitute a citizen’s arrest? > [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Does this mean I can’t hold a burglar/home-invader at gunpoint until the cops show up? Afterall, at that point I’m threatening him with the gun. I think you’re better off shooting to kill as soon turn around to face you. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/50 "2013-06-19T00:44:38Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Wouldn’t the _homeowner’s_ premiums go up, or is that just with car insurance? The vandalized homeowner may also file a claim and his insurance might pay out initially, provided the policy covers vandalism. But if he chooses to go this route, his insurance company would pursue reimbursement against the insurance companies of the parents of the vandals (in a process called subrogation) because the parents are legally and/or civilly liable for the damages. \*Their \*homeowner’s policies would ultimately be responsible for paying out, in the form of a \*\*homeowner’s liability \*\*claim (well, maybe as many as 4 claims). The victim’s rates might go up if he does this, because filing a claim increases the risk that one will file future claims, regardless of fault. But his rates wouldn’t go up because somebody else damaged his home. If he chose to directly pursue the insurers of the parents instead of filing a claim with his own carrier, his own rates would not likely be affected. Oh, and insurance does not only cover damages that the policyholder cannot afford to pay out-of-pocket. Insurance covers any and all damages that exceed one’s deductible. Rich celebrities can and do still carry insurance and file insurance claims. Although a rich person would potentially carry higher deductibles, because it lowers their rates and they can afford it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/51 "2013-06-19T01:39:15Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > As will the homeowners and anyone else who has home insurance. > > Insurance is for when the thing that did the damage can’t pay. Like a storm or if nobody has been caught. The owners can get paid quickly from their homeowners policy, and still go after the kids’ parents, as can the insurance company sometimes, or the owners may be required to sue. The owners can collect anything the insurance doesn’t cover from the parents, and all of it if they can, but they’d have to refund the insurance company anything over their out of pocket costs. That’s the way it works. There’s nothing wrong with it, that’s why you get homeowners insurance, which usually contains a general liability policy, which may be where the parents get any money to pay damages from. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/52 "2013-06-26T13:16:04Z")
The DA is [recommending that charges be dropped](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/20/simmons-da-wont-prosecute-man-who-detained-vandals/) against Jesse Daniels. Good move. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/53 "2013-06-26T20:40:44Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > 16 times this has happened in the last 14 months. Never has a parent cooperated or reprimanded their child. It’s never their precious angel. Dude, get a security camera. Nail the bastards to the freaking wall. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/54 "2013-06-26T23:21:05Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Dude, get a security camera. Nail the bastards to the freaking wall. Or a high end pellet gun. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/55 "2013-06-27T14:28:59Z")
Nail gun works better. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207/56 "2013-06-27T14:46:02Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Never has a parent cooperated or reprimanded their child. It’s never their precious angel. I misread ‘precious’ as ‘pernicious’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeowner-charged-for-protecting-home-from-vandels/661207.md?page=2)