Ridding Drug Dealers In Your Neighborhood...?

Question

Some drug dealers moved in across the street about a year ago. Yesterday on my lunch hour I went home for lunch and noticed a group of about 8 people outside smoking marijuana with two smaller children approx. age 12-13. I called police but they basically told me they would have to catch them in the act. They couldn't just go there and barge in on them. I went to police station last night furious. Basically they told me the same thing. They will patrol the area more and try to catch them in the act. I looked on public records today found the owner of the house that the drug dealers are renting. What are some effective ways you can think of for ridding drug dealers out of your neighborhood? Also, other neighbors have complained as well, but nothing seems to be getting done. However, the owner claims they will do everything in their power to get them out of the house. Any tips?

I also thought about video taping this activity that goes on daily. Submitting to the police...if they didn't want to do anything about it maybe the local news channels, newspapers would? Ideas please.

It's definitely my business. I have children that age and I pay good money to live where I live. It's absolutely my business if they cannot go outside to play, etc. If they want to smoke inside, so be it. Not around my children.

It is my business whether they offer it to my children or not. Who's to say they don't have a meth lab? If they don't want people in their business then don't make it my business. Go inside and do it in private I have no problem with that.

First of all Dixie you've got it all wrong. I don't give a **** about what anyone is doing in my neighborhood. I worry about me and mine and that's it. When it's brought to my face, I have a problem with it. They get themselves in trouble each and every day I don't have anything to do with that! They do a fine job all on their own. When I see them exposing two small children...sorry it's a problem for me and I won't sit back and watch it right in front of my face. I don't care if they have a meth lab either, let them blow themselves up. Not my problem. When my children can't go outside because of all the activity....big problem for me! I'm not having it. So continue to enjoy your neighbors beating the **** out of his wife. Or who's to say she's not the one beating him? Don't assume Dixie! They could just be having some damn good sex!

Dixie. It's very clear you are not offering me any good advice. I can do without yours. Thanks anyway!

You know Dixie in one way I agree with you. Would I want someone up my ***? No I absolutely would not. And I'm not ever in these people's business. If there's something I don't want my children around, I don't let them interfere. Again, I could care less what they do. It's clear they are trafficing drugs. Again, I didn't care until I see them all outside doing it. I'm not a prude, I smoked pot before too. I see nothing wrong with that if that is what they want to do. Am I trying to get them in trouble? NO! I clearly asked that they be watched more. I think it's important. And I'm not going to let you or anyone else make me feel bad for being a concerned parent who cares about the world my children live in. Can I prevent it? Absolutely not, it's everywhere. But I will do my best that's for sure.

Answer 1

I smoke every now and again and if one of my neighbors EVER called the cops on me they would be sorry, however I don't stand outside in the open and do it either that is flaunting it and showing off which is stupid. How do you know they are dealers? Traffic? Anyway...its really none of your business! A convicted armed bank robber moved in next to me and beats the crap out of his wife and stands outside drunk and screaming all the time and there is nothing I can do about it either! Deal with it! It could be worse!


No, their lifestyle is NONE of your business! If they offer something to your children then it is! How would you like living next to a man that put guns in people's faces and threatened to kill them if they did not give him what he wanted? I pay plenty of money to live where I live too, but I cant make him leave! They are stupid to do something like that outside, true, but would you rather them smoke pot or have a highly explosive meth lab in bathroom? how do you know it was pot? Like I said I smoke every now and again and I live in a very upper class neighborhood and I just cant see people standing in their front yard doing that knowing people are coming in and out! Unless you were peeping in the windows or sticking your nose where it doesnt belong!


I am not saying that I am commending these people for doing this but I know how pot smokers act...and that just doesnt make any sense! I would never do that! Unless I wanted to get caught! You are just going to have to explain to me what logical explanation you have to assume it was drugs! And "doing it around your children" Do you honestly think that they have not seen worse? No child is a saint and you'll be lucky if pot is ALL your children try!


There is a woman is my neighborhood just like you! she tattles every time someone does something she doesnt like! She sits at her window spying on people and she had 2 boy evicted from the house they rented for smoking pot...and guess what?! Her house was burnt to the ground! And just to let you know! If you pester the police until they do go out and search the place, if they dont find anything....that is slander! If I were you I would worry about teaching my kids right from wrong, not trying to control a situation that you have no control over! And about the meth lab...how do you know that the nice neighbor next to you doesnt have one?! DONT ASSUME!


I'm not ASSUMING when I say he beats the crap out of her because I have seen it with my own eyes and I'm not assuming he is a convicted bank robber either. YOU ARE ASSUMING THAT THEY WERE SMOKING POT! What I'm saying is that is not NORMAL BEHAVIOR for someone who smokes pot! It makes you PARANOID! It does not make you want to smoke in your FRONT YARD. Face it you are pissed off because there is nothing you can do about it! And why cant your children play outside? If they ask about what the neighbors are doing you make the RESPONSABLE ADULT DECISION to teach them right from wrong! And trust me if they are "DEALERS" they will get caught! all you have to do is sit back and wait! DONT BE A TATTLE TALE!! "Boo Hoo my neighbors are doing something I don't like or approve of so I want them evicted" GROW UP. I am begining to question your parenting abilities. If you are SOO worried about the neighbors smoking pot, you had better not put your kids in school! You had better home school them, because I'm SURE they will most likely do the same if not worse!


You said they get theirselves in trouble each and every day?...Then they will get CAUGHT! If you go to the landlord and have them evicted under false pretenses...They could take YOUR house! How would you like it if someone in your nieghborhood called DSS and said they thought you were abusing your children and had a social worker come to your house once a week....You would tell them to keep their nose where it belongs...right? What if somebody called the cops on you and said they saw you toting drugs into your house and you lost your home...was it any of their business? And not letting your children go out and play because you THINK that the neighbors MIGHT be smoking POT is crule! So how about let them play in the back yard were the neighbors cant be seen and MIND YOUR OWN DAMN BUSINESS!



Well atleast you understand that being a prude is not tactful! Anyway, they will get caught WITHOUT your help or 2 cents! Your children will know right from wrong if you teach them, however they will fall into the wrong crowd if you hound them. If they are DEALING drugs, then I definatly agree with you, they need to elsewhere and do that! TRUST ME, police officers WILL notice alot of traffic! That is the #1 dead give away, if they have cars coming in and out, but for your and your childrens safety, I wouldnt get involved! Just like the bank robber next to me, I know he does ALOT of stuff that he should not do, but I am going to keep my nose out of it because I dont want him to think that I tattled and going to get me for it! As far as I'm concerned any drug OTHER THAN pot is very very dangerous and causes people to do things they would not normally do! So just be careful! Keep a watchful eye over you and yours and just wait...it will come out in the wash, it always does!

Answer 2

Call the police and complain every chance you get. If they are playing loud music, smoking dope, parking their car illegally, etc. The more the police have a chance to come and talk to them the better. If the police department in your town has a narcotics unit call them and complain too. I f your neighbors want to get rid of them have them call to.

If you feel the agency is not doing anything then write a letter to the Patrol Captain and or your councilman.

Video taping them is a good idea but be careful about them seeing you. If these guys are dealing they may do something to you if they notice you doing something like that. The video and neighborhood complaints can be used as part of the probable cause for a search warrant on the house.

Answer 3

First, nothing you have said leads me to believe that your neighbors are dealing. From you your wrote it seems like your neighbors are just a bunch of dopers who like smoke. There is a huge world of difference between doing drugs and dealing them.

Now as for the police, yeah pretty much there isn't much that can be done. This all depends on where you live, but in general mere posession of drugs is a nonsense offense. On top of that if the drug they are using is only weed, then it is even more petty. In NYS for example, somking weed in public is about as serious as running a red light. Meaning, you get a summons and you probably don't even get locked up.

Add to all of this that a police officer has to actually witness your neighbors doing drugs or carrying drugs in plain view. They just can't take your word for it. And if your neighbors are only using weed instead of selling it, which is what I suspect from your story, then you have about a snowballs chance in hell of the police ever being able to do anything.

I'm sorry, but that is just the way it is. The offense you are alleging are just too petty and too hard to get the required probable cause to effect an arrest. Even if everything that you hope happens and police show up and catch your neighbors in the act do you know what would happen?

They MIGHT get locked up. More than likley they would get only a summons as I said before. But even if they get locked up, they will be released the very next day and they will be back smoking their weed the moment they get out. These are not serious offenses. Its sad, but you pretty much just have to deal with it.

Answer 4

Videotaping is a great idea that can not only help the police but also give the owner sufficient reason to terminate the rental agreement through eviction.

The police do need to witness an actual offense unless you are willing to sign warrants and be able to prove what they were doing was illegal.

In a court of law any good defense attorney would ask you to identify the items being smoked. He may tell you "yes it looks like a duck...quacks like a duck...but could be just tobacco they're smoking."

Demand the police make more frequent visits to the neighborhood. If you don't see a good response...talk to the chief or city/county commission.

Don't let these thugs ruin your home and neighborhood!

Answer 5

If you value your life and property you will let the police do there job...when you start to video and stick your nose in things it doesn't belong you can get tied up in a world you want nothing to do with...as for the 12-13 year old...were the hell are there ignorant parents....if they were good parents there kids wouldn't try smoking....even so how do you know for sure that it was pot they were smoking....if you have someone evicted or arrested, there will be repercussions, they'll come back and mess up your house or car...and they won't get caught because they have to be caught red handed....besides what are a couple little pot heads going to hurt.....being this stand up citizen isn't always what it cracked up to be, let the police handle it, they know something is going on there, and there watching and when they have the evidence, i.e one of these drug dealers selling drugs...they will bust them, other wise keep your nose out of it....when you mess with people in the "drug world" you get treated like your in there world.......

Answer 6

I would be careful video taping an activity like this. If they are the violent type or revengeful type this could put you at jeopardy. I know if it were me and the police showed me a tape that someone had of me trying to incriminate me I would look at the angle the tape is from and figure out who did it.

I do believe this is what the police and law enforcement agencies call hearsay. They cannot accept your statement as evidence because they did not actually see the crime being committed.

Good luck.

Answer 7

Hi..I think Video taping is a good idea. This will act as evidence against the culprits, however be a liitle cautious. Also, If you witness these activities, on a daily basis, call the cops at the time when they are involved in the act. The cops would be in a better position to catch the culprits, as these goons would be under the influence of the drug at that time. Also request the cops to maintain anonimity about your identity.

Answer 8

Yes videotape, yes local news. But be careful - don't become a target for a bullet from across the street. Can you look with binoculars from your house into theirs?

Get with other neighbor(s) and call tv news together. Have videotape ready if possible.

If you found owner, find owner's address and write to owner about your concerns. If they're druggies they're probably trashing the house, which may get action from owner.

If see kids around drugs again, call DFACS or whatever they call it in your area.

If nothing else, call the City and tell them you saw rats over there. that will put some heat on them which could maybe grow into a drug bust.
If nothing else

Answer 9

First, don't let the neighbors know you are on to their behavior. Pot isn't really a hardcore drug. But Crack, and Meth are serious enough to be a felony for possession, even in small amounts. If you want to be dishonest, you can give anonymous reports to crime stoppers of Meth being cooked at their address. Or you can just contact the Guardian Angels in your neighborhood, and have them patrol your neighborhood for safety.

Answer 10

"hey couldn't just go there and barge in on them" thank god for the constitution. Imagine if police could bust down your door without a warrant.

I Recomend going out and sitting on your porch and reading a book. It will drive them inside hopefully.

But "drug dealers" and a group of kids smoking pot is a big difference. ONe will send you to prison, one will simply be broken up. Please dont go accusing your neighbors of being drug dealers unless yo usee traffic to the home and honestly believe they are dealers.

What if it turns out they are smoking cigerettes? They get passed around also, more so when the smokers are young.

Answer 11

Every time you talk to a cop, get their name which is on their chest. And make sure they see you writing it down. Document that and take it to your home owner's association or just a group of homeowners and take the info to your local county politicians. They have a lot of leverage on local police. If you do it right the cops who didn't do anything the first time will get a call from the police chief to get things done, which is why they wear a gun.