Illegal activity in my neighborhood?

Question

I live in a very upscale area of a larger US city. We picked the neighborhood because it is quiet, child-friendly, and close to my work. We have lived in our house about a year. There is a family that lives a few doors down on the other side of the street. There is a fairly consistent parade of people who come by their house (mostly during the daytime hours), stop their car in the road, leave something (sometimes a package, sometimes an envelope) on the doorstep and take something (usually a package, sometimes an envelope) from the doorstep. Usually it is not the same people from what I have seen but different people. This family keeps veeeery much to themselves, so we have no idea what they even do for a living, etc. I was wondering if there is some way to give an anonymous tip to some authority - we looked at our local police department's website but they want our info. I do not want a tip coming back to us since we have small children, etc. What do you think?

Yes, I am assuming something illegal is going on. I know it could be something legit, but it brings in all kinds of people all throughout the day. I was wondering what I could do, not how I could get the SWAT to storm in tomorrow.

Answer 1

Your info, if you give it, will be held in strict confidence.

Local police aren't very likely to get involved unless you have strong articulable facts to support that there is criminal activity going on. Based on what you've stated, I would be suspicious also.

You should call the nearest DEA or ICE office instead. I advise that you call the DEA.

Spend some time DISCRETELY taking photos from a window or something of the cars that come and go. Get some license plate numbers whenever you can. DON'T BE SEEN DOING THIS!!!! Call this in to the DEA when you give your info. The DEA is unlikely to require you to provide your own contact info if you wish to remain anonomous, but different offices may have different requirements. If you decide not to continue with DEA, try ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). You can provide information to all of the agencies you can think of, if you wish. There's no reason to only give it to one.

Don't expect anything immediate to happen. Investigations take time, and they will not be able to storm the house just because of a suspicious neighbor. They will need more to go on. Part of the reason I advised you to give them plate numbers is so they can run the record checks. If most of the vehicles come back to known dealers, users, or other such scumbags, they might feel compelled to do a thorough investigation, rather than assume you are just a nosey neighbor with an axe to grind.

El Chistoso

Answer 2

Unless you have evidence of some wrong doing, there is nothing the police can or will do. If you can, take down license plate numbers and hold them until something happens

Answer 3

You can also call your code enforcement department and tell them that you suspect that they are running an unpermited business out of their home. Also, the business licensing department might know whether there is a legitimate business license pulled for that address.

Answer 4

I'm pretty sure you can give an anonymous tip to the police, just be firm, and do it by public pay phone. And be sure they ARE actually involved in illegal activity.

Answer 5

Get license plate numbers.

Take them to the police. They will run them and see if they have priors.

Just go down to the police station and ask to speak to a detective.

Good luck.

Answer 6

make a video of it and send it to the police and see what they have to say

if you call them nothing will happen since they are probably busy with other stuff

if you give them visual evidence then they are more lilkely to follow up on youre problem

Answer 7

Look for information about a drug task force in your area. Call them and tell them what you posted here.

Answer 8

i was unaware it was illegal to have someone drop off a package at my house.

your ASSUMING there is illegal activity!

Answer 9

no thank you