<p>We had an office in a little tiny strip of a town that had a gas station, liquor store, a few businesses and a few little houses, one being a daycare. Out of nowhere 4 families moved into this tiny home and prostitution became an issue. In a matter of months we could watch drug deals and sex deals going down right in our parking lot. Soon after that people would try and ask my employees for money in the parking lot, then they started coming into the building. We ended up moving. The police have tried shutting it down, not sure if it worked. My point being, things can change really, really quickly. Get the police aware of it now.</p>
<p>If you are speaking to the police don’t have them stop in front of your house or in your drive. Either talk to them on the phone or go in to pd away from your home. They (cops) can start driving by at different times and THEN stop by the place(neighbors) to check it out. If there is drug dealing going on next door you don’t want them knowing you are the one trying to put a halt to their “business.”</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>When this happened to my friend, she and the other neighbors kept a log of the cars, license plates, times, etc and worked with the police drug task force, or whatever group handled it. This was before cellphone cameras or they’d probably have done that too. There were no repurcussions, in case you are worried. The neighbor went to jail and the house was sold.</p>
<p>A friend of mine was in a similar situation several years ago. She described what you describe; cars all hours of the day and night. She really liked these neighbors - both professionals, friendly, nice upstanding neighbors. She called a relative who is an FBI agent and he felt for sure it was drug dealing so he contacted local authorities and they set up surveillence which ultimately led to a bust and off to jail her neighbors went. I would not contact the elderly neighbors and discuss this with them - let the authorities figure this out. Maybe it’s nothing but I think you should have it checked out. </p>
<p>Something similar happened in my neighborhood. I wouldn’t bother with calling over there or borrowing sugar - just contact the police. THEY are professionals, and this type of situation is their job.</p>
<p>If it turns out that nothing is going on - great! But the police should be the ones to make that determination.</p>
<p>Have you seen the neighbors kids or grand kids lately? Are you sure they are still living there? If a home health care vehicle is there then either the employee is involved with what every is going on or it’s not what you think. There was a meth house that the police busted at the other end of our large subdivision a couple years ago. Cars at all hours of the night. However down the street we have a neighbor with high school and college kids. There are always cars coming and going but the parents are there and I know there is nothing going on other than the kids are really popular.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t go over there and tip the kids off that you are even paying attention. I like the idea of going to your police friend and asking his/her advice.</p>
<p>In January, a kid was shot in my neighborhood in what was a suspected drug deal gone awry. And neighbors hadn’t even reported the kind of activity you are reporting. If those kids are going to get the house when the parents/grandparents die, it’s only going to get worse. Let us know what you decide.</p>
<p>ETA: I hate the word snitch. Why not “Should I be a good citizen and report my neighbors’ kids?”</p>
<p>You’re not being a snitch. The police that held neighborhood watch meetings in our area said to call police for anything/anybody you see that seems suspicious. They will check it out…you don’t have to know for sure something is going on.</p>
<p>Thanks everybody. I have not seen my policeman customer yet today, but will definitely mention this when I do. The grandparents who own the place seem to be aware of something going on because they put “no trespassing” signs on their back gate and fence a few months ago. I thought it was because young men were coming to see the granddaughter (28 yrs) and they didn’t like her seeing guys. One day, before the signs went up, I was in my driveway cleaning out my car. A young man was parked over there waiting. He finally asked me if I would call them and tell the GDtr that he was waiting. He said the grandparents hated all men and wouldn’t answer if they knew it was him. I told him I didn’t want to get involved. The grandparents own a nice car, but they do not allow the kids or grandkid to drive it. I have seen the daughter return in it with groceries, so maybe they let her drive only to run errands for them. When I came home at 5 p.m. yesterday, there were young men in a car parked there. The GDtr came out and got in the car with them. In 10 or 15 minutes, she returned with a couple of shopping bags from Walgreens or somewhere. Maybe I am jumping to conclusions. Maybe they are just providing her with transportation. I came home at lunch today and there was a car parked there with a man in the drivers seat. About 10 minutes later, a 20-something boy comes out the gate, gets in the car and drives off. I got a better look at the driver and he looked to be 40 or more years old. I don’t know if there is sex trade going on or drugs or what. </p>
<p>Oh, and I live in Texas. Guns are the norm. I do not have one, but am thinking about getting one. Or borrowing one of my son’s hunting rifles. Anything would work if I felt threatened. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If we’re talking meth, explosions aren’t the only thing to worry about. The chemical processes needed to cook meth means the house and possibly its surrounding environment would need to be professionally decontaminated by biohazard teams to ensure it is safe to live in. </p>
<p>There’s been some news accounts of families moving into what were former meth houses and getting sick within a matter of weeks or even days because they weren’t decontaminated properly or at all. </p>
<p>Call the non emergency number for your police dept. </p>
<p>The cars are your tip off.
This happened with my neighbors. The cops started watching in plain cars (I never noticed I thought they were ignoring those of us who complained)…they didn’t just rush over with guns. But, once day “BOOM FLASH” and guess what…drugs. And then a couple months later AGAIN. So …keep a watch. I personally started using my phone to take pictures of all the cars. </p>
<p>I would set up security cameras to try and get some evidence before going to the police. This happened with our neighbors awhile back, and the police really couldn’t do anything until they had hardfast evidence. Once we had the security footage, all of them were promptly placed in jail. </p>
<p>Why is it the neighbors responsibility to carry out what should be a police investigation? I agree that security cameras are a good idea-- for the neighbors protection. I would NOT wait to call the police. </p>
<p>Whatever is going on in there sounds very strange and fishy.</p>
<p>Might be blowing this whole thing out of proportion. People may come and go as they please from their home…only activity described here is the neighbors’ house has a lot of people coming and going at all hours of day…and someone carried some bags from Walgreens into the neighbors’ house. Meth lab, guns, drug dealing, prostitution…anyone actually witness any of that occurring? Call police and report you suspect illegal stuff going on next door…let cops handle from there.</p>
<p>The cops told me “The neighbors are the first to know. They may not know WHAT exactly but they know what is out of character for their neighborhood. We trust them.”</p>
<p>Though it is possible, very possible to the point of probable that this is not a criminal issue, do stop by your police department and tell them what you are seeing (the activity) and what you are not seeing (the neighbors themselves). Give them the name of the medical service that you see stopping by there as well.</p>
<p>What my guess is, as to what has happened, is that they neighbors have become incapacitated. Stroke, heart attack, dementia, pain, who knows? And the younger generation has stepped in with all of their friends and contacts. Maybe some of them are criminals, maybe not. They could just be down and out, and now have another place where they can hang out and crash. </p>
<p>Do you know a close friend or relative of the neighbors that are responsible types that might be able to get access and see what is happening there? If not, unless there truly are some illega doings that can be caught, this might be the way things are going to be. </p>
<p>I say this because it is sadly the situation with a number of DH’s family members. As the elders have “fallen”, their kids and grandkids have taken over the homes, and in return provide some oversight and care to the home owners. Not the caretakers one imagines, but that’s the way it works sometimes. That there is a home health services van regularly appearing indicates that some health care issues are happening there and that at least there is some care being taken. In return for being there, shopping, taking some care, these caretakers now have likely laid claim to the house as their own incorporating their own lifestyles and friends into the picture and they are likely living off the social security checks and bank accounts as well. Some of that, is business as usual in these cases. Beyond a certain situation, theft, and if your neighbors are being held hostage in a scenario they do not want, police intervention may be necessary to free them from it.</p>
<p>I would absolutely have a get together with the police.</p>
<p>When my Grandma was still living, my cousin went to spend the summer with her. Cousin hooked up with the wrong people and they were soon regular visitors to Grandma’s house. They basically cleaned her out of any valuables and gained access to her checking account. If you asked Granny, she would say “oh my granddaughter is such a popular girl and her friends are always coming over to visit”</p>
<p>Yup, Kajon. That’s a down side if things are that bad and relative has some downright bad “friends”… They can clean out Grandma, grandpa or whoever, but not much anyone can do, if they are truly family and no one else in that family will step in, or they are the next in kin or the victims are not incapacitated enough for the law to step in and they agree. But if they are being held hostage, if the police check things out, there is that out. I have a feeling that this is the new 'normal" next door to the OP. And unless one can outright catch them doing anything illegal, not a thing you can do. It’s a problem when this happens as it’s unlikely those newcomers would have otherwise been able to move into the neighborhood.</p>
<p>It’s an issue taking place all over the country these days, when grandma or other elderly relative starts losing it, and some opportunistic next of kin moves in and takes over the household, the house, and then the money. </p>