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Odd Neighbors
lessthanpi
MNRegistered User regular
MNRegistered User regular
So, my neighbors have an endless string of "friends" visiting each day for about 5 to 10 minutes at a time from about 10pm until 2am. They show up in their cars or in taxis, block our shared driveway, stand on the porch for a bit, and leave.
I've got some suspicions about what they might be up to. Should I call the police and let them look into it? Ignore things since no one seems to be getting hurt? Any ideas? Better yet, anyone have any explanation for what could be going on that isn't illicit?
Oh, and to make things worse there are two little kids living in that house. So if anything bad is going down they're being exposed to it.
I've got some suspicions about what they might be up to. Should I call the police and let them look into it? Ignore things since no one seems to be getting hurt? Any ideas? Better yet, anyone have any explanation for what could be going on that isn't illicit?
Oh, and to make things worse there are two little kids living in that house. So if anything bad is going down they're being exposed to it.
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Maybe they sell crafts on the local Craigslist.
After about three months of this occurring the house was raided in a drug bust, the residents were arrested, and the police confiscated massive quantities of drugs and drug paraphernalia.
I would contact your neighbors about the blocked driveway, and ask them to be more considerate in the future. What they do isn't really your business, as long as it isn't directly affecting you or your home. If you do see something explicitly illegal however, I would report it as soon as possible.
It's amazing how much you can accomplish by actually confronting the situation.
I've watched people show up in a taxi cab, walk into the house with a wad of cash and walk back out a few minutes later sans currency. I strongly suspect they've got a growing operation.
We know what you suspected.
I don't know what you want us to tell you. Either go talk to them, call the police if you're that concerned, or leave it alone.
If it's that obvious to you that there are deals going on, especially with children in the house, then I might suggest visiting your local police station and just saying "hey, my neighbours have people visiting them at all hours of the night and I strongly suspect they're dealing drugs, what should I do about this?" If it's a big enough issue for the police, they'll say "don't do anything, we'll handle it." And that will be that.
Basically I'm saying I'm not sure that confronting them explicitly about your suspicions of drug deals would be a wise choice. Either they aren't dealing and at best you look nosy, or they are dealing and who knows what could happen.
This, basically. Unless something is going on that can clearly be seen from outside the house, even if you call the police they can't really do anything when they get there, as far as I know.
I don't know whose faces you should or shouldn't get up in about this, but one thing you can do if you're concerned is call up your local police station and ask about your options.
If this is just about the driveway, try talking to them first, because you really don't know what's actually going on and they might be really nice about it. If you're genuinely worried about the kids inside the house, I would be more likely to contact the police just to see what they think.
What you've described is almost certainly enough for the police to get a warrant or watch until they have enough. The conservatives on the supreme court have been gutting the 4th amendment since the 70s.
In any case, they're people. Talk to them. If they're reasonable (like most people are) they'll go out of their way to make things better for those around them.
So, yeah I would definitely check with a police officer about what can be done about your current situation. I wouldn't confront them about it. Seriously who gets visitors at all hours of the day for a few minutes at a time? I don't know of anyone who gets friends every day showing up in taxis all the time either, but that's just me.
If however you really do think something illegal is going on, and want to do something about it, the best thing to do is just go down to the police station, state your concerns, ask them what you should do.
Under no circumstances should you talk to them in any way about your concerns besides the driveway being blocked. If they ARE doing something illegal, you have no idea how they might react if someone is getting suspicious of them, especially if what they are selling is more serious than marijuana. Either stay out of it completely (except where it concerns you as a neighbour and your rights to free access to the shared drive), or go directly to the police and don't talk to your neighbours at all.
^My only regret is that I am not able to lime this post more.
If you confront them you're putting up a big "retaliate against me" sign if something ever does go wrong. You're not a public servant; it's not your job to put yourself in harm's way - and if they're running the kind of operation that you think they're running then they are likely willing to protect themselves in any way possible. Let's say you confront them and nothing changes. Then you call the police...or maybe they get ratted on by someone they sell to - the cops come knocking. Who do you think they're going to look at? I'm not normally an alarmist but I've had enough experience with the kind of people who sell drugs to know that they're not all screwed in right.
Your best and safest option is to let the professionals in the kevlar suits handle it. Your tip is not enough for full-blown probable cause but it's certainly enough for reasonable suspicion and that's all it takes to start an investigation.
If you DO talk to them...only mention the blocked drive. But remember, if you mention that to them, then you are cluing them in that you are aware of their constant activities and visits and they will get suspicious. If someone (you or another neighbor) does end up calling the cops and they get busted, they will look at you for retaliation.
You need to decide if their possible illegal actions are truly bothering you. If so, then call the cops and fill them in on the details and ask to remain anonymous. They will take it from there. If you could care less about it, then move on with your life.
Talking to them though is asking and leading to trouble you may not want.
Edit: Where I live, I have read multiple instances in the paper where the cops were tipped off by a neighbor who called in reporting lots of coming and goings and cars/activities. That was all it took and the cops began an investigation that later led to a drug bust of some sort.
I will go out on a limb and say that it's in his best interest to get along with neighbours who willingly break the law, because he doesn't know what they could be capable of.
Discretion is the better part of valor.
I'm in Ottawa, Canada. Could be the same people! I know... probably not.
But this is potentially illegal, felonious behavior that is more likely than not going to come and bite them in the ass. You make a stink now, even without mentioning your suspicions, you've just raised your hand and said "suspect me!" if and when the cops come knocking.
Just call the non-emergency number, voice your concerns, and then try to deal.
I had two UTTERLY FUCKING STUPID older brothers doing this exact same thing. That's all they care about. Getting in, getting the exchange done and getting out of there.
Let the police know there is suspicious activity over there. Voice your concerns but don't accuse them of anything, ESPECIALLY not to their face.
First of all, if these people are dealing drugs, they aren't going to start doing anything to bring heat to themselves. Whatever you decide to do, you can gauge them pretty easily. Considering she's a nurse and they have 2 children chances are pretty good they'll be relatively cool people, just maybe making money in a less conventional way.
OTOH, there have been a few gang related shootings here in the lower mainland resulting in the deaths of completely innocent people. One guy was driving the same model truck as a targeted gangster. Another happened to take the wrong detailing job and was shot while he was returning the vehicle. A contractor was working in an apartment when someone came in and killed everyone in the place.
So yeah, personally I'd talk to them about the driveway thing if I ever needed to get out or noise if that's a problem, but I'd also be seriously concerned about what kind of possible danger I'm being put in living next to them.
The house itself might be pretty chill, that doesn't stop other dealers from being absolutely crazy.
The drug trade in BC is, by far, mostly weed. What drug it is has nothing to do with it, it's all about the money to some people.
There's no denying that living next to a drug dealer introduces risk to a person whether they're involved or not.
If the area becomes known to have drug houses in it, property values decrease.
There are plenty of reasons to be concerned about having this go on in your neighbourhood.
I think the gang warfare in the lower mainland is about more than just weed though.
I think he should do something about it, per my last post, I just think that confronting them directly about dealing, no matter how sure he is, might not be the best idea. Even if the people sound chill.
Definitely, confronting them about dealing is insane. I mean if all he does is about the cars, then just talk to them.
Otherwise, I don't honestly know what I'd do, but this nonsense that it isn't his business or doesn't affect him is pretty much total BS. Having drug dealers living in his neighbourhood affects him negatively in a number of ways.
It's really about money, weed just happens to be the largest drug business here. I think they estimated it to be a billion dollar industry in BC alone?
I think the general consensus is that if this is about the driveway, say something about that, but keep it to the matter of your car's ability to go into and out of it. If you want to talk about anything else, you should probably do so with the police rather than your neighbors.
Just to respond to a few questions.
1) I'm in a mid sized city in the upper midwest. No significant violent crime.
2) I didn't much care what they were up to until stuff started disappearing out of my yard, mail and packages UPS and FedEx dropped off started vanishing, and both my cars gas tanks started getting siphoned every few nights. (I've since bought locking caps and the problem is fixed). These could all be coincidental, but the steady parade of strangers next door is the immediate source of suspicion.
Anyways, If anything escalates I'll go to the cops in person.
If any of the Mods read this go ahead and lock the thread.
The next escalation is someone breaking in. Maybe you are there, maybe not. I would go to the police now.
Yeah, seriously - this changes a lot of things. If it's just some guy being an idiot growing for a couple friends it's arguably one thing, but if it's already at the point where they're stealing your gas from the tank, the next step is either 1) breaking into your place, or 2) mugging you, neither of which is worth waiting around for
If you're worried enough about retaliation, then you're more than likely going to have to move regardless of whether you report it to the cops or not, since at some point they're going to get caught and suspect you anyway... and there's no reason to wait until things get more serious than they already are
It usually doesn't take long.