Do you have any idea where they're buying the firecrackers? You could try to address it with them.
It worked like a charm when Animal Control came to my house to tell me about a barking dog(s) complaint. I knew the complainer was my Nasty Neighbor. So, I asked the AC officers if they'd like to see the video of NN and his kids teasing our dogs. The kids would climb the tree that is in his yard and crawl out on the branches that overhang our yard and fence (whole yard is fenced). After seeing the tape, the AC told me it was pretty smart to tape the incident (we'd suspected this was going on, so whenever we left, we'd hit the remote to record on the camera that was set up in the garage, carefully concealed) and then they headed over to NN house to inform him that WE could charge HIM with animal cruelty. Haven't heard from them or him since.
Hang the thugs up by their croakies and turn them into human pinatas.
Sounds like you've gotten good suggestions here.
Please don't do the "dog tied up in the yard" one, though. If the dog is tied up it can't defend itself and could become a sitting target for these creeps.
tripwire.
use the old "bucket on a door" prank. put a couple buckets of washable paint or dye up in the tree, and set a tripwire up a couple feet around the tree. anyone trips the wire, they'll get a shower. you should hear them squeal when it comes down, just make sure you have a camera handy.
also, double check laws, make sure that a trap like that isn't against the law- or that cops will ignore it.
Call the ATF and tell them that members of a religious cult are detonating explosives in your neighborhood. It may be worthwhile to suggest that maybe the cult is also manufacturing drugs. That way the ATF can get the Army to loan them some tanks to smash and burn their houses.
The parents are liable for the actions of their punk kids. They'll probably beat the crap out of them.
Problem solved and you come out smelling like a rose.
Dogs are great, but its sounds like you live in a fairly urban area.
A big dog is a lot of work, and is a multi-year commitment. Its even harder in the city unless you have a large lot for it to run around in.
I have some of the same problems, but they're so intermittent, it isn't worth addressing for me. The camera might be useful, but I'm not sure it would do any good to give it to the police in my neighborhood - they're too busy eating donuts, writing traffic tickets, and responding to major crimes after the fact.
If you're going to invest in a camera, and you do get a shot of the perps, I suggest making a simple mailing and sending it to everyone in your neighborhood. Someone will recognize them, hopefully their parents. Might cost a couple hundred $ in stamps and Kinkos charges, but it would be worth it if the problem went away, and it might stop the next generation growing up in your neighborhood from even thinking about taking over when the current perps grow out of it.
If you can catch them in the act, I like the idea of a paintball gun - especially if you can tag their car, which hopefully is Mommy and Daddy's - then they'll have some serious explaining to do. Plus its non-lethal. Until you catch the kids, you don't know if you're dealing with early teens who are on the wrong track, or late teens who should know better.
If its a warm summer night (which is when the shenanigans happen in my neighborhood) and their windows are rolled down, try to lob a couple of paintballs into the interior.
A security camera would be a good way to go. I would call a place that sells security cameras and ask for an opinion. You would definitely need a day/night capable camera. You wouldn't necessarily need a color camera since you are recording in the dark. I would buy a cheap DVD recorder (<$100) at Wal-Mart or wherever since blank DVD's are inexpensive and it would give a good quality recording.
Report that you are being "Terrorized."
"Hate crime " would be better, but won't work if your straight and or white.
A couple of well-placed rattlesnakes usually are enough to get their FULL attention.
Obviously there are some new teenagers in your neighborhood. Wait until they start breaking in to your car or home! They'll get over it in a year or so, but that doesn't help matters. Another problem is parents who will not believe their little angles could do such mischief will verbally abuse you if you even suggest their involvement. I guarantee it is kids from your neighborhood.
Be sure to have NRA decals on your windows and door.
If so,
The effect should be even funnier than this:
LOL!!!
Call the county and state police if they aren't already on it. They're a lot more likely than local police to have an organized effort to deal with illegal fireworks. They're often tracking down the distributors and retailers, and cutting off the supply, as well as trying to trace the worst users (like the ones terrorizing your neighborhood) through these sellers. In Long Island a couple of days ago, county police stopped a truck that was illegally carrying 18,000 pounds of fireworks, enough to flatten a whole block. Just what we need bouncing through the tunnels to Manhattan!
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--fireworksseized0524may24,0,4986716.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork