[Coda]

Geez. O.o;

Unless you live in a city with particularly bad cops, the advice you were given growing up is heavily misguided. In most cities, the cops are upstanding citizens doing their job, and the only time you should need to fear them is when they're yelling at you. (It's true that there are places where the cops have been trained to fear the public, and in those places the cops CAN BE dangerous, especially if you're an intimidating-looking person.) I would really recommend getting the police involved because this kind of behavior shouldn't go unpunished.

Though get your stuff back first. Don't want him breaking it in retaliation. And if you have a big intimidating-looking friend, bring them along, especially if they can dress up looking authoritative. (If they can look like a police officer or security guard, even better, considering your parents are afraid of cops.)

But if you really, really, really can't stomach the thought of getting the police involved, then consider contacting a lawyer. You can sue for personal injury and property damage.