It's not enough that streets are becoming more dangerous these days.

Being inside your home is too.

I had just finished having a shower on Sunday, when I heard my daughter screaming and running up the stairs.

If she'd spotted a spider she wouldn't react in such an extreme way, so I couldn't imagine what was wrong with her. But she was very frightened, her face said it all.

She told me something had shot through the window.

Bear in mind the windows and curtains are closed.

I went into the living room expecting a pile of glass on the floor and a gaping hole where the window should be. But upon inspection I couldn't see anything.. at first. Then I noticed on the bend of the bay window, a hole in the pane, and glass on the window sill and floor.

I peered out, only to see a man walking away on the other side of the road with a hoodie on. It might have been him.

My first thought was it was linked to the 'year I've had'. If you've read the papers you'll know, but if not I'm not repeating it.

I called the police who soon put my mind at rest. He said a house in the vicinity had also had the same done to it and they were calling there next, and it was probably kids.

I am really angry that these mindless yobs are roaming the streets at night pointing guns and suchlike at houses and firing.

Had the curtain been open, the object could have quite easily hit my daughter, causing serious, if not fatal, harm.

Luckily this wasn't the outcome, but so easily could have been.

Who do these people think they are.

As it is, we're safe, but it took a lot of calming my daughter down. She followed my every move. She jumped if I spoke suddenly or in more than a soft reassuring whisper to her.

These 'kids' have been having a laugh, gone home and probably slept well in their beds, not knowing they've just frightened an eight-year-old child half to death and left her and myself feeling unsettled throughout the night.

I don't wish bad on anyone, but if this ever happens to them now or in the future, I share no sympathy.

In fact if they shoot each other, it won't come anywhere near the fright they gave my daughter.

Site Editor's Note

What do you think about BB guns? Are they toys or dangerous weapons? Should they be banned? Have you any experience of them good or bad? Write in and tell us at My York News.

Updated: 15:27 Friday, December 09, 2005