A reader complains to agony aunt Coleen Rooney that her friend puts away a whole bottle of wine while she’s driving and can’t drink
Reader has to drive to the pub so she can’t drink but is still expected to pay half the bill(Image: Getty Images)
Dear Coleen
I have a close friend who I’ve known for many years and we meet up every so often for lunch and a catch-up. For a long time, we were able to meet at a local pub and we’d always share a bottle of wine together.
However, recently our local closed, so I started offering to drive us to another pub, which I was happy to do, and I was also fine with not having an alcoholic drink.
Here’s my dilemma, which I hope doesn’t sound petty. Although my friend knows I won’t have a drink because I’m driving, she still puts a bottle of wine on the tab and drinks the whole thing herself, and then asks to split the bill 50/50 when it’s time to leave.
Honestly, I feel she is taking advantage of me, and it really winds me up! I also think it’s possible she has a drinking problem. Part of me wants to make an excuse not to go next time, and part of me thinks I should try to help her face her alcohol problem.
It’s an annoying situation and I don’t know how to best handle it. What would you do?
Coleen says
Well, first off, I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that she has a drinking problem just yet. When she meets up with you occasionally, it might be the only time she has a whole bottle of wine to herself. My point is, tread carefully and approach it from a supportive angle, and don’t mention it as part of the conversation about the bill.
As for leaving you with a bill for booze you haven’t had, I would be direct and say something like, “As I’m driving and not drinking, could you cover the wine?” because, let’s face it, she could just order a glass.
So, it is cheeky not offering to pay for the alcohol, which is expensive. I don’t drink, but when I go out with my friends who do drink, they always say, “Oh, no, Col, you’ve only had a cup of tea, we’ll pay for the booze”. But if they didn’t offer, I’d have no problem saying, “Guys, I’ll pay my own bit, even I didn’t have any booze”.
If your friend is upset, just stand firm and explain that you were happy with a 50/50 split when you shared the bottle of wine, but now you’re not drinking any of it, plus you’re also covering the cost of petrol.
But I really hope you don’t have to get into a verbal tennis match about who’s paid for what over years of friendship.
It comes after the struggling beauty chain collapsed into administration earlier this month, with the latest closures expected to result in 444 job losses
Bodycare is set to close its final 56 stores(Image: Kirkgate Shopping Centre)
Bodycare has confirmed its remaining 56 stores will close for good by this Saturday – with the full list of locations confirmed.
The final round of closures is expected to result in 444 job losses. It comes after the struggling beauty chain collapsed into administration earlier this month.
At the time, Bodycare announced it would immediately close 32 stores, then just days later, the retailer confirmed another 30 stores would close permanently.
You can find the full list of the new closures, as well as the stores that have already closed, below. Bodycare had hired advisors at Interpath to handle its administration process but it has been unable to find a buyer for its stores.
Nick Holloway, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: “We understand this has been a difficult period and so we want to further express our sincere thanks to Bodycare’s staff who, since day one of the administration, have maintained the strong standards of presentation and customer service that Bodycare was renowned for.
“We will continue to explore options for the company’s assets, including the Bodycare brand, and will provide further updates in due course.”
Bodycare was founded in 1970 on a Lancashire market stall by Graham and Margaret Blackledge, but has been owned by Baaj Capital since 2021. It sells products from well-known beauty brands including L’Oreal, Nivea and Elizabeth Arden.
It marks the latest in a line of high street casualties, with Poundland recently sold to private equity firm Gordon Brothers for just £1. The budget chain originally announced plans to close 68 stores – but in the latest update, Poundland revealed that 11 of these closures have been put on hold.
Poundland said there is no change to its overall expectation that in time as leases expire, its number of stores will reduce to around 650 to 700 stores. Poundland had 800 branches at the beginning of its restructuring process.
Meanwhile, Claire’s appointed administrators for its UK and Ireland business last month after filing for bankruptcy in the US. The administrators at advisory firm Interpath have since been in talks with potential buyers about a possible sale to secure the future of the chain on British high streets.
Full list of Bodycare closures
The following Bodycare stores will close permanently by Saturday:
‘Excellent pair of socks. Day and night compared to the other compression socks I have
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Holidaymakers are raving about a £29 travel essential that’s helping to ease swollen ankles and tired feet on long haul flights. The Sports Compression Sockspraised as ‘really impressive’ by shoppers, are designed to boost circulation and reduce discomfort during travel.
Founded on the belief that performance begins with balanceDanish Endurance has become a trusted name among athletes, adventurers and travelers alike. The brand’s original innovation, the compression socks, was the very first product launched and remains a best seller today.
Designed in Copenhagen and tested by Olympic athletes in extreme environments like Greenland and Mount Everest, the socks, which come in a range of colors, combine Scandinavian quality with science-backed design for unmatched comfort and support. Originally crafted to meet the needs of runners seeking faster recovery and reduced fatigue, Danish Endurance compression socks have since become a travel essential for anyone spending long hours on their feet or in the air.
Engineered for endurance, Danish Endurance Compression Socks deliver targeted support exactly where it’s needed most. Using graduated compression – firmest at the ankle (15-20 mmHg) and gradually lighter up the calf, they help boost circulation, reduce swelling and support faster muscle recovery.
The dual layer knit construction ensures long lasting durability on the outside, while the soft inner jersey provides next to skin comfort, even during long runs or flights. Breathable mesh panels at key heat zones keep air flowing to prevent overheating, while a silicone print cuff grip and flexible elasticity make them easy to pull on and keep securely in place.
The Sports Compression Socks are available from Danish Endurance.
Originally crafted to meet the needs of runners seeking faster recovery and reduced fatigue, Danish Endurance compression socks have since become a travel essential for anyone spending long hours on their feet or in the air.
Available in sizes S-2XL for a precise ergonomic fit, these socks are trusted by athletes, marathoners, and travelers. Whether it’s logging miles on the road, hitting the gym, or sitting through a long haul flight, Danish Endurance Compression Socks could be ideal.
An alternative option is Amazon’s 2 Pair Compression Socks for £6.99 which come in sizes small/medium and large/extra large. These socks are said to provide relief from neuropathy pain in feet and are ‘specially designed with compression for improved circulation and reduced swelling’.
The CareCo brand also has Comfort Compression Socks for £7.99 that are available in small, medium and large. These socks offer ‘relief from pain and inflammation by absorbing pressure and reducing friction.’
The Danish Endurance socks have been rated highly on the website, however. One happy customer said: “My first pair of compression socks. Purchased due to ankle and foot swelling on long haul flights, wore for the first time going to India and extremely impressed. Definitely recommend.”
A second wrote: “Overall the socks are great, I use them for long haul flights and they fit very well and produce no problems at all. Would buy them again anytime. Strongly recommended.”
Naturally, not every sock will be suited to everyone and some others deducted a star. For example, one shopper said: “They are a bit less tight than I would prefer. But overall they felt good and I love how they look.”
Most were happy however, with this customer saying: “Excellent pair of socks. Day and night compared to the other compression socks I have. Highly recommend!”
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Like many people, I suffer with dry skin on my face. It’s annoying, at best, and it means when I wear makeup it doesn’t go on properly and my face looks noticeably textured.
To make matters worse, my skin is also really sensitive, so it’s not just a simple matter of applying moisturizers. Many of these make my skin red, or conversely even drier. So when I heard about people finding success with a humidifier, I was keen to give one a go.
You see, dry air sucks the moisture out of your skin. This is made even worse during cooler periods, when the central heating is on. I tried out the Meaco Armin Evaporative Humidifier, which is said to “prevent sore throats, dry skin, and congestion”.
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It’s also quiet, a necessity for someone like me who is utterly useless without a full night’s sleep. It’s easy to use, too, you simply put some water in and press a button – an easy ritual I now find myself doing every night.
Within weeks I noticed my skin was improving, something I feel is close to miraculous. My makeup goes on so much better and my hands seem less dry, too.
And it’s not just me who has benefited. When my son had a cold I popped it in his room and it seemed to help his blocked nose at night.
Humidifiers work by helping to restore moisture levels in the air, which can do wonders for your skin. There are many options on the market, but this one suits me as it is compact and doesn’t go with any of my bedroom decor.
It’s also energy efficient and, as I said earlier, very quiet. I’m not the only fan of the device, as the Meaco Armin Evaporative Humidifier has an average rating of 4.25 out of five stars on the Meaco website.
One happy customer wrote: “Like this very much. I searched long and hard for the right humidifier. I was tempted by the cheaper evaporative humidifiers but there was always some problem. Eg difficulty in finding filters or having to use distilled water.
“This one seems very good. You can use tap water. You can change the filters’ orientation and so they last a long time. It’s quiet. Large enough to last 2 or 3 nights but not too large. Hydrostat to regulate the humidity. Recommend.”
A second said: “Great machine, very quiet in use, humidity settings seem quite accurate.” And a third said: “Just fantastic.”
The Meaco Armin Evaporative Humidifier 300 is available for £129.99. Alternatively, the Philips Evaporative Humidifier 3000 Series is available for £139.99 from Amazonand B&Q is selling the Beurer Intelligent Auto Humidifier LB300 for £179.99.
The gut health professor has simple recipes that boost your physical and mental health
Neil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)
10:17, 17 Sep 2025
Gut-health expert and founder of ZOE Nutrition, Professor Tim Spector, says we should ‘load our plates’ with more fermented foods, and he has published a book packed with recipes that will help.. His new book, Ferment, is a deep dive into foods like sauerkraut and kombucha as well as kefir and kimchi.
Spector aims to have something fermented with every meal, and says adding them to your diet is “far more important than any supplement you can buy”, as they support the immune system, help stop infection, reduce the speed of aging, and even boost mental health.
He said: “We’ve evolved to have fermented foods and we’ve just forgotten. We just threw all the old traditional things out the window. We’re now back-pedalling.
“The most important thing we can do for our health is to make the right food choices.”
Tim Spector has created a series of recipes in his new book Ferment. Here are a few you can try:
Tim Spector’s honey fermented garlic
“This is probably the easiest vegetable ferment you can make – garlic comes complete with its own microbiome starter and chemicals such as allicin, which deters other microbes,” says gut health ‘guru’ Tim Spector, author of the new book, Ferment. “You will need raw honey for this recipe – honey that has been extracted without the use of heat and is unpasteurised, untreated and unprocessed and retains all the nutrients.”
Ingredients:
(Makes 1 year)
2-3 heads of garlic
About 300g of raw honey
Method:
1. Peel enough garlic cloves to fill a clean jam jar or Kilner jar two-thirds full.
2. Spoon over the raw honey to cover.
3. Close the lid and give the jar a good shake to combine the honey and garlic.
4. Sit the jar on a plate and store in a larder or cupboard at room temperature and out of direct light.
5. Turn the jar and ‘burp’ the lid every few days for seven to 14 days and watch the garlic ferment and transform the thick honey into a clearer, runnier liquid. The garlic may discolour, but don’t worry – this is normal.
6. Once the garlic has fermented it will keep for months in a cool place or the fridge. You can then use either the garlic or honey separately as standalone ingredients or try blending them together. Add some good olive oil and apple cider vinegar to make an amazing salad dressing. The honey can be used as a marinade, a glaze for meat, fish or vegetables, or I often do and nibble on a whole honeyed garlic clove, which in some cultures is believed to have health benefits such as warding off colds.
Variation:
Try adding other herbs too such as sliced fresh turmeric root, ginger or a sprig of lavender to the infusion.
Tim Spector’s simple kimchi
Korean condiment kimchi can take some time to get to grips with, but “this is a short cut for those who want a faster recipe, cutting out the traditional two-stage salting process,” explains Tim Spector, scientist and author of the new book, Ferment. “You can use any whole cabbage, Chinese/napa cabbage and/or daikon (Japanese radish) for this recipe.”
Ingredients:
(Makes 1 year)
1 cabbage or Chinese/napa cabbage
1 daikon radish
Sea salt
4 garlic cloves
1 bunch of spring onions, trimmed and sliced
1–2tbsp Korean chilli flakes (gochugaru)
1 tbsp soy sauce
1tbsp fish sauce (or fermented miso paste for vegans)
Method:
1. Trim the cabbage and cut it into 4–5 mm thick slices. Trim and peel the daikon and cut into thin half-moons.
2. Weigh the combined vegetables, tip into a bowl and add 2 percent salt of the total weight.
3. Using your hands, massage the salt into the vegetables until they are starting to soften, then cover the bowl and set aside at room temperature for about four hours.
4. Combine the garlic, spring onions, chilli flakes, soy sauce and fish sauce in a food processor and pulse to combine.
5. Add to the vegetables and mix well to thoroughly coat them.
6. Pack tightly into a clean jar ensuring that the vegetables are submerged beneath the brine. If necessary, add a little 2 percent brine (ie 2g salt for every 100ml water) to cover.
7. Press weights on top and loosely cover with a lid, then leave in a cool, dark place for five to 10 days until fizzy.
8. Transfer to the fridge and eat within one to two months.
Variation: Leftover kimchi
1. Chop any spare vegetables including peppers, brassicas, carrots and onions (but avoid anything too leafy and too soft) into 4–5mm slices. Finely chop a few garlic cloves, a thumb of ginger and two to three chilies and add to the mix.
2. Weigh the prepared vegetables and add 2 percent sea salt and a good amount of chili flakes (Korean or ordinary) and mix to combine.
3. Using your hands, massage the vegetables for a couple of minutes to soften and then leave in a covered bowl for an hour.
4. Then tightly pack/squash forcibly into clean jars, making sure that the vegetables are submerged below the resulting brine. If necessary, you can top up the liquid with 2 percent brine.
5. Cover loosely with a lid, sit the jar on a plate and store somewhere dark and cool for a week, burping the resulting gas every day or so. Store in the fridge and eat within two to four weeks.
Ways to enjoy krauts and kimchi:
● Add to salads or stir into rice or grain dishes – kimchi is particularly delicious in egg-fried rice or served with noodles.
● Add to cream cheese as a spread – a great idea for kids.
● Add sauerkraut to a Reuben sandwich with pastrami, salt beef or mushroom pate on rye bread.
● With cheese and bread or in toasted cheese sandwiches.
● Add to dumplings or macaroni cheese or serve alongside scrambled or fried eggs.
Tim Spector’s simple sauerkraut
“Traditionally sauerkraut is fermented slowly at lowish temperatures – two to four weeks at around 15-20°C – to give enough time for the sourness to properly develop,” explains scientist and gut health expert Tim Spector, whose new book is called Ferment. “With a pH of 3.5, sauerkraut is around seven times more sour than kimchi, its spicier cousin. Red cabbage takes longer to ferment than white cabbage, and both work faster if you add another vegetable (like a small carrot or two) that contains a range of accessible sugars for the microbes.”
Ingredients:
(Makes 1 large jar)
1 white or red cabbage
1–2 carrots (optional)
1tbsp caraway seeds (or juniper berries)
Sea salt
Method:
1. Trim the base of the cabbage and peel away the outer leaves; set these aside for use later. Cut the cabbage into quarters and use a mandoline, food processor, coarse grater or sharp knife to finely shred the cabbage and carrot (if using).
2. Tip the cabbage into a large bowl, add the caraway seeds and make a note of the total weight. Add 2 percent salt of this total weight, so if the total weight is 600g, you will need 12g of salt.
3. Using your hands, massage the salt really well into the shredded cabbage for a couple of minutes until it starts to soften. Cover the bowl with a clean cloth or plate and set aside for at least 30 minutes and up to three hours until the cabbage is very soft and has released water.
4. Scoop the cabbage and any resulting liquid into a clean one-to-two-liter jar and really pack it down hard so that the shredded cabbage is submerged under the briny liquid and you have a clear 5cm gap between the cabbage and the top of the jar. Cover the top of the cabbage with the reserved outer leaves and place a weight on top. Close the lid but leave it slightly loose – if the jar is sealed tight it runs the risk of exploding!
5. Place the jar on a plate in a dark cool cupboard out of direct sunlight and leave for two to three days for fermentation to start. Burp the jar daily to release any collected gas. After seven days the sauerkraut should be fermenting nicely so it can now be stored in the fridge. Use within one to two months, depending on how soft you like it.
Ferment: The Life-Changing Power of Microbes by Tim Spector is published in hardback by Jonathan Cape, priced £25. Available now.
A car expert has shared a simple hack that drivers can use to keep their car clean and fresh – and it will cost them less than 30p. It’s perfect for the Cost of Living crisis
Lemon can help keep your car sparkling (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A car expert has shared a nifty 30p trick to get your vehicle sparkling in no time.
The team at BigWantsYourCar.com have let slip a savvy tip that can help keep your vehicle in tip-top shape for pennies, which is music to the ears during the ongoing Cost of Living squeeze. “As we head into the colder months, we know that many families will be looking for ways to cut down on costs,” said Darren Miller, a car expert. “Getting your vehicle valeted won’t be top of the spending list with Christmas around the corner, but with this 30p hack you can make sure your car feels fresh every day.
“It’s truly surprising how many Brits don’t know about this incredibly affordable car cleaning hack. With just half a lemon, baking powder, and a cloth, you can keep both the interior and exterior of your car spotless and odor-free. The importance of clear headlights can’t be understated, especially during autumn when visibility can be challenging.
READ MORE: Amazon’s major update as it stocks new Google Pixel 9
“Using this life hack to clean your headlights gives you a clear view of the road and keeps you safe. The acidic lemon and abrasive baking powder works wonders in getting any dirt and grime off your headlights. It’s an easy, cost-effective way to ensure your car’s exterior remains in top condition.”
Birmingham Live report that he revealed: “But the benefits don’t stop there. Baking powder is a versatile cleaning agent that can also be used to tackle stains and unwanted smells in your car’s interior. It’s a multi-purpose solution that every car owner should have in their arsenal. A clean and fresh-smelling car interior can make your daily commute more pleasant and inviting,
“By taking advantage of this simple yet effective life hack, you’re not only maintaining the appearance and functionality of your car but also ensuring your safety on the road during autumn when clear headlights are paramount.”
Phone expert Chris Hall has crunched the numbers on the iPhone 17 Pro – and shoppers could save hundreds with the right deal
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We’re well into the Black Friday sales, and stores are lining up loads of deals and discounts. The good news is that there are lots of great discounts, but the bad news is that those discounts are not always on what you want to buy, like the iPhone 17 Pro.
The latest iPhone from Apple is the must-have device of 2025, but it’s also one of the most expensive. There are big savings to be made with some smart buying decisions, where shoppers could get the phone for as little as £37 a month from Sky Mobile, but would be better paying £42.06 a month to GiffGaff.
For shoppers looking for the cheapest iPhone 17 Pro with data, GiffGaff is the best option, offering the 256GB iPhone 17 Pro with 25GB data for £42.06 a month, with £25 upfront. I’ve examined a range of iPhone 17 Pro buying options – which I detail below – but here’s a quick glance:
READ MORE: O2’s excellent Pixel 10 deal beats Sky and GiffGaff this Black Friday
READ MORE: Apple’s 7 best Black Friday 2025 deals on iPhone, MacBook, iPad and more
The iPhone 17 Pro is Apple’s top model, with the most power and the best camera, and a fresh new design introduced for 2025. The handset itself costs £1099 when bought SIM-free and there are no discounts on this – but there are considerable savings to be had if trading in an old phone.
Through GiffGaff, shoppers will actually pay £1179.16 for the phone over 36 months, so it’s £80.16 more expensive than buying SIM-free – but the advantage is monthly payments, with this deal really working because of the low cost of GiffGaff’s data, which comes through the O2 network.
The iPhone 17 Pro is Apple’s latest flagship with a new design, great camera, loads of power and an excellent display.
There are no mid-contract price rises on GiffGaff, although because the data contract is 18 months, the price might be different after a year and a half – but shoppers are then free to choose a new deal.
There’s the option for a 20GB monthly rolling contract for the same price, which means shoppers aren’t tied into the data and could swap to a cheaper SIM if they wanted. The handset payments are on a 36-month contract, however.
The downside of GiffGaff is that there’s no combined trade-in for an existing device, although the company does give shoppers the option to sell their phone, however, it can’t be used to bring the price of the iPhone 17 Pro contract down.
The absolute cheapest network deal
There’s a big winner when looking for the cheapest deals – Sky Mobile. One of the reasons is that Sky Mobile offers a £0 SIM with 100MB data. It’s not a usable amount of data – it would be gone in minutes once surfing online. But it doesn’t allow that £37 a month price for the iPhone 17 Pro.
The downside of Sky Mobile is that, compared to other deals, the price of the phone is higher – it’s £1344 total – so while the monthly payments with almost no data are lower, the overall cost of the phone is higher. However, add a 1GB data plan at £2 a month, and it’s cheaper than GiffGaff, but there’s still very little data.
For those who plan to use the phone mostly on Wi-Fi, this might work, but for anyone wanting decent mobile data, then GiffGaff is the better option.
Big networks have the advantage of controlling the signal that customers connect to, so they may get preferential data rates at busy times, as well as having more perks associated with the contract.
The cheapest deal from a big network is the iPhone 17 Pro from EE at £44.54 with £30 upfront and 10GB data on the No Frills plan – only a couple of pounds more than GiffGaff. However, it’s limited to 10Mbps speeds. The 50GB Essentials plan is faster, but takes the price up to £46.64 a month. There will be mid-contract price rises.
That’s still cheaper than the next best offer, which comes from Three, offering the iPhone 17 Pro for £48 a month with £40 upfront and 5GB data. There will be mid-contract price rises.
Vodafone appears to be offering some great deals, but they are skewed by a 6-month 50% discount on Airtime Plans. These start cheap, but then double in price, at which point they are really expensive.
Best deal for big data
There’s a winning deal for those looking for lots of data – and this is the only deal that’s actually due to Black Friday, and it comes from Mobiles.co.uk, which is offering 5x data, landing shoppers with 500GB.
Mobiles.co.uk has the iPhone 17 Pro for £49.99 a month with £29 upfront and 500GB of data. There are mid-contract price rises, but this is a 24-month deal on iD Mobile – and it’s the cheapest route to the iPhone 17 Pro with lots of data.
The absolute cheapest way to get an iPhone 17 Pro
Here’s the crunch. Buying the iPhone 17 Pro from any retailer on a contract means paying more than the £1099 price. The absolute cheapest route to ownership is to buy the phone SIM-free and pair it with a cheap SIM-only deal.
Currently, all retailers are selling the iPhone 17 Pro for £1099, for example:
All those retailers also offer some sort of trade-in, although Apple only offers payment for Apple devices. Apple offers payment over 24 months at 0% (£45.79 a month), Argos offers 0% installment options, as does Amazon, while Currys offers 6 months interest-free flexpay. Shoppers looking to buy the device could consider these, but read the small print, as outside of the limited 0% offers, the interest rates are high.
A Hermosa Beach man is reportedly recovering after enduring a violent beating by more than a half-dozen alleged teenagers Friday night, all of whom fled while the victim lay incapacitated in an alley.
The incident, which was captured on several different security cameras in the area, unfolded at around 8 pm Nov. 21.
Footage of the beating shows a man carrying a pizza box as he walks down the alley off 11th Court, about a block away from the pier, in Hermosa Beach. At the end of the alleyway, several suspects, reportedly teenagers, can be seen.
The victim, who has not been identified, was seen talking to the teenagers before they started attacking, punching him and taking him to the ground. While he was down, one of the suspects beats him several times with the pizza box, while another is seen stomping and kicking the man.
As the group, some of them on electric dirtbikes, start to leave, one of the alleged teens appears to either take photos or film the victim while he’s incapacitated and then eventually takes off.
Footage of the attack drew widespread attention after it was posted online, prompting officials at the Hermosa Beach Police Department to release a statement on Instagram stating that officers responded to reports of the attack “within minutes.”
A man was hospitalized after a brutal attack by a group of alleged teenagers in Hermosa Beach on Nov. 21, 2025. (viewer image)
A man was hospitalized after a brutal attack by a group of alleged teenagers in Hermosa Beach on Nov. 21, 2025. (viewer image)
A man was hospitalized after a brutal attack by a group of alleged teenagers in Hermosa Beach on Nov. 21, 2025. (viewer image)
A man was hospitalized after a brutal attack by a group of alleged teenagers in Hermosa Beach on Nov. 21, 2025. (viewer image)
A man was hospitalized after a brutal attack by a group of alleged teenagers in Hermosa Beach on Nov. 21, 2025. (viewer image)
A man was hospitalized after a brutal attack by a group of alleged teenagers in Hermosa Beach on Nov. 21, 2025. (viewer image)
A man was hospitalized after a brutal attack by a group of alleged teenagers in Hermosa Beach on Nov. 21, 2025. (viewer image)
The victim was rushed to the hospital in unknown condition and, according to authorities, has since been released.
While the police say the violence is being investigated, residents in the South Bay beach community say the group is well known for causing trouble.
“They run around and cause a lot of trouble,” Geoff Van Sickle, who owns Strand Electric Bike Company in Hermosa Beach, told KTLA. “These kids are noted for constant trouble. They run in packs of five to six bikes at a time. I’ve witnessed attacks in Redondo. They circle people and then they attack them.”
Surfers robbed, murdered in Baja California, set up by 23-year-old woman
Van Sickle also noted that the electric dirtbikes the group rides are illegal on the streets.
“Anywhere in California on the streets. They are off-road dirtbikes just like a Kawasaki (dirtbike) or something like that, that you ride in the woods,” he said.
Investigators have yet to share a motive for Friday’s attack, but residents in the area have theories about what’s going on.
“Trying to be cool, obviously,” South Bay resident Richard Hernandez said of the group. “Someone overheard them saying something about ‘we got to do something’ and that’s what they did.”
Luke Walsh, another resident, said none of what the group does makes any sense.
“I’ve known some of the kids from school and they just do everything for no reason,” he explained.
Many residents who spoke to KTLA’s Jaqueline Sarkissian said they believe the alleged teens’ parents know exactly what’s going on and that they are allowing it.
So far, no arrests have been made, and the police said they have no additional details to share at this time.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Bollywood’s ‘He-Man’ Dharmendra dies at 89 Best known for the iconic role of Veeru in the all-time great Sholay, Dharmendra was India’s “most handsome actor”.
Jim Gaffigan exclusively told PEOPLE the one Thanksgiving rule that his mom would always enforce when he was a kid
“Growing up, it was like you were starved by Thanksgiving,” the comedian said
Jim also said that he wouldn’t “kid” himself by trying to implement any Thanksgiving rules for his and Jeannie Gaffigan’s five children.
Jim Gaffigan had to follow one strict rule when celebrating Thanksgiving as a child.
Ahead of hosting the Big Brothers Big Sisters Of America 120th Anniversary Benefit on Nov. 19 in New York City, the 59-year-old comedian revealed to PEOPLE that his mother “would not allow us to eat anything” before Thanksgiving dinner.
“Growing up, it was like you were starved by Thanksgiving,” Jim said. “Particularly if you slept in and you missed breakfast. She’s like, “Then you have to wait. You have to wait because you’re not allowed in the kitchen.’ ”
Now that he and his wife, Jeannie Gaffigan, are hosting Thanksgiving alongside their five children — Marre, Jack, Katie, Michael and Patrick — Jim made it clear that he wasn’t going to be anywhere near as strict as his mother once was.
“I don’t kid myself if there are going to be any rules that are going to be observed by children,” he quipped. “I guess what’s good about Thanksgiving is it does focus you to kind of contemplate gratitude. Because I think human beings are kind of dumb and we need these reminders, kind of like we need Mother’s Day and Father’s Day to kind of like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s right. Maybe I should thank these people.’ ”
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While he doesn’t dare implement any rules for Thanksgiving in his household, Jim recently shared further insight into life as a father of five during a panel at the Tribeca Film Festival.
“Children are evil,” he teased back in June. “I joke around and say, parenting is the most important thing I’ll fail at, and there is something to that. But, I think that if human beings remembered how difficult and complicated and impossible, teenagers are the species which cease to exist.”
Jim Gaffigan Big Brothers Big Sisters Of America 120th Anniversary Benefit.
Roy Rochlin/Getty
“I think that we forget that parenting is similar to the entertainment industry, filled with enormous amounts of humiliation, and you’re biting your tongue a lot,” he continued. “When kids are younger, there’s a cuteness to it, but when your kids are teenagers, they’re not conscious of it, but there’s a cruelty that you’re exposed to.”
The following week, Jim told PEOPLE that even getting his kids out of bed can become a battle of its own.
“I feel like getting teenagers out of the house or out of bed on a weekend is a game in itself,” he explained. “So the game is like, do you blackmail? Do you motivate? Do you inspire? Or do you just go full crazy?”
“And for me, there’s the balancing act of, you don’t want to lose your s—,” he added. “But you also have some sense of self-respect. You know what I mean?”
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