Should I Report My Neighbors to the Police?

In My Humble Opinion
1

About a year ago, my family and I relocated to Tennessee after selling our house in Florida. While we’re looking for a house up here, we’ve been living in an apartment. This apartment isn’t part of a huge apartment complex, it’s actually a quadplex. It’s a nice place, though the walls are a bit thin.

So here’s my problem: apparently my neighbor is selling perscription pills out of his apartment. His mother-in-law lives with his wife and him, and she must be having some health issues. Well, from the conversations I’ve heard through the walls, he’s selling her (his MIL’s) prescriptions.

As I said, the walls are thin, and he tends to get a bit loud when he’s been drinking. My wife and I have heard him yelling at his MIL and wife about the types of pills he’s selling, the number he has left (accusing someone of stealing them), and what he’s charging per pill. These shouting matches can be any time during the day or night. It’s not uncommon to hear him yelling at 2am. Sometimes the arguments carry out to the front of their apartment when he’s threatening to leave, or his wife is.

There are always different cars parked outside the apartments, and I’ve had to go out and ask some of his friends to move their cars because they’re blocking us in, or taking our space when my wife is on her way home, etc. I’ve also come home to see the actual transaction take place on their front porch. I don’t avoid making it obvious that I’ve noticed these transactions, sometimes eyeballing him as I walk into our place, but I’ve never come right out and said anything to him about it.

Should I call the police about this? I’m a bit apprehensive because of my family. My wife and two pre-teen daughters live here too, and I’m concerned that if I did call the police and they approached him, he’d realize almost by default that I was the one that reported him, and possibly retaliate. Now, he’s not what I would call an intimidating sort; he’s probably early 20’s, 5’6” tall, and 120lbs soaking wet, and from the conversations I’ve had with him, he’s about as bright as a bag of hammers. And I don’t think he has the balls to attempt any bodily harm on me (though he might know somebody who does), but I’d hate to have to deal with a keyed car, or a slashed tire, or a broken window. Or more importantly, constantly worry about my wife and kids’ safety.

So what would you do in my situation? Other than the things I’ve listed, he seems like an okay enough guy, though admittedly my actual interaction with him is rare. I’m more apt to pitch my tent in the “live and let live” camp, but the blatant manner in which he’s conducting business is almost…insulting. He doesn’t try to hide it, it’s just right in my (and my family’s) face. Almost like he’s saying, “Meh, you’re not going to do anything.” And before some Doper comes in and says, “So you don’t care that he’s dealing drugs, you just care that he’s doing it out in the open?” I’ll answer this question with, “You’re damn skippy.” If he’d been doing it behind closed doors, I’d never have posted this.

Anyway, that’s it. Whaddaya think? I’ll provide more info if needed.

2

Fuck YES report him! But also, make it clear it’s anonymous - you don’t want his dirtbag friends hounding your little girls on the way home from school. Call from a pay phone or a prepaid cell phone (not blocked your home phone - they can trace it) and say you’re a neighbor and you’ve seen it happen. Document where and when you hear the phone calls, when you see the action, etc. Do you have his full name? Get his license plate. Document what he’s saying on the calls, who you see him sell pills to. Any idea what kind? Get all your information down on paper before you make the call.

Without disclosing too much…my parents are dealing with a similar situation, only the guy is much deeper than he initially appeared and the cops won’t go after him because other agencies are involved and tracing him.

I’d also arm yourself with a shotgun kept under your bed.

They’d never been gun owners; they now are. It’s a smart thing to do. Just because he’s not big doesn’t mean he’s not carrying a weapon, legally or (likely) illegally. He could hold your family hostage or retaliate if he suspects you at all. But you’re safer reporting him than not; one of his lowlife friends could come banging down YOUR door by mistake, asking for cash or drugs. His lowlife friends aren’t going to stop coming around and put your family at risk every single day. You’re best bet is to try to get rid of them with the cops. But it’s also wise to protect yourself with the cops as well. You have enough cover if it’s a quadplex and there are other people who can see him be a slimeball and sell shit in public.

Are all your doors and windows locked well? Deadbolts and secure window locks? Now is the time to make yourself and your loved ones as secure as possible. Is there a room in the apartment safer than others? I’d train your daughters what to do in an emergency; develop a plan. If they don’t already have cell phones, get them phones (you can get cheap, prepaid ones for literally $10 at Target or your local Wally World).

You have my sympathies; I know firsthand how stressful it can be. Be careful, good luck…keep us updated.

3

Move. When’s your lease up?

Then report him.

4

The problem here is that the OP has already made it pretty clear he knows what the neighbor is up to. Even if someone else calls the cops, the neighbor may very well come after him.

You said that it’s been about a year. I assume your lease is almost up. Start looking for a new place. Assuming they haven’t caused you any problems so far other then some parking issues, I’d work on the assumption that it’ll continue that way and keep the cops out of it.

Also, I wouldn’t mess around with getting a shot gun. That’s just asking for more problems. Especially if there hasn’t been a history of violence with these neighbors. That goes double if you have kids in the apartment. Keep your doors locked. Keep your eyes open. Be aware of your surroundings. Keep your cell phone handy. Keep your wits about you. Don’t answer the door at night without knowing who it is. And stop giving them the stinkeye when you walk by. If you’re only there for a little while longer, just deal with it. If you really want to turn them it, call the cops when you move out. A shotgun in the hands of someone who’s already jittery about his neighbors is a good way to end up on the 6:00 news for taking accidentally taking out the pizza guy that was heading to the apartment upstairs OR finding yourself in the position of actually needing it and but not having the nerve to use it and having the other person take it away from you and use it on you. In short. Unless you’ve seen them using guns or had seen some sort of violence (other then yelling at each other) I think getting a shotgun is a Bad Idea.
Also, if you call it in anonymously, the cops will probably have to see something happen with their own eyes to actually take any kind of action.

Of course, this is all based on the few things that you told us. Lindsey’s parents may well be in a totally different situation where guns and cops make a lot more sense, in the OP’s situation, I just don’t see them helping, especially since the OP has already made it pretty clear to the Bad Guys that he knows what they’re up to.

5

Could you report him to your landlord and let him/her decide what to do? That way it wouldn’t be your problem and you wouldn’t have to move. And why should you? You’re not the one doing something wrong and moving is a huge pain in the ass, especially if you plan on buying a house soon anyways.

I would do something though. Maybe you neighbor has never done anything to you personally, but you don’t know his clients and drug addicts are very unpredictable. Think of your daughters, what if some pissed off addict comes banging on the door looking for your neighbor? Is that something you want them to have to witness or deal with?

6

Yeah, I’d probably move first, then think about doing something. (And seriously, move already! This is not a good environment.)

Let’s face it. The police aren’t going to send the SWAT team for a guy selling his Meemaw’s scrips. I’d bet he’s barely going to be a blip on their radar. It’s not like he’s exactly Scarface. It’ll take a while for the police to get to it and you have no idea how they’ll go about investigating. I’d take the safe route and wait until my family was safely far away from this creep. If they arrest him, the first thing that will happen is he’ll make bail and be right back in your apartment complex (and he’ll be pissed and looking to blame someone for his arrest).

This is probably overkill as he doesn’t sound like a bigtime drug dealer, but if those walls are so thin they transmit surround sound, I’m guessing bullets could go through like butter.

7

Yeah, 10 months left on the lease, and I really didn’t want to pack up and move into a new apartment, then pack up again and move into a house if that happens.

I already have a 9mm handgun (had it for years ), but it’s not something I’d even consider getting out of the lockbox unless I felt we were in immediate danger.

Talking to my landlord might be a good idea. I’ve talked to him a few times about other things, and he seems like a nice, receptive guy. Don’t know him well enough to know if he’s the type that’ll want to get mixed up in this headache though.

8

Unless you do your sound proofing with half inch steel plate, bullets will go through any typical wall.

9

And you’re not complaining to the landlord already about the screaming at 2am?

I think I’d start with that, and then casually let it drop that he’s screaming about his drug dealing and that I really hope that if the cops come swarming in busting down doors in the middle of the night and generally wrecking the place (sure to get the landlord’s attention) that I hope they get the right place and aren’t holding guns to my kids heads trashing the place looking for drugs while dumbass over there is busy flushing them.

See if that gets his attention.

10

I don’t think being passive-aggressive with the landlord is necessary. He owns property where illegal activity is taking place, so he’s already liable whether he knows about it or not. I imagine the landlord would appreciate having the opportunity to do something about the problem before he finds himself on the hook, legally.

11

I wouldn’t get involved in any way, much as I would like to, including calling anyone – rumors have a way of getting started, so don’t put a target on your back. Just keep you and yours safe by keeping your head down – and these lowlife types always seem to do themselves in with the law or in some other way.

I’d also consider exploring breaking your lease without penalty, given a documented history of substandard living arrangements.

12

Yes, but, OTOH, I can also hear landlord saying “Listen, mr. drugdealer, Shark Sandwich said that you’ve been selling prescription meds, and I don’t want to lose my property because of you. You’re a good tenant, and blah, blah…”
Don’t think that the landlord will necessarily keep your confidence. This is a tough call, but, I think that the only answer is to call the cops, while packing your bags.

Best wishes,
hh

13

As an alternative, you might want to contact whichever agency handles cases of elder/vulnerable adult abuse/neglect in your area. In my state, I think there is a toll free hotline to make an anonymous report. From what you’ve posted, it seems to be a situation where the guy is taking the mother-in-law’s meds, perhaps by force or intimidation. If she’s elderly or otherwise vulnerable, she may need help…

14

Well, you could always go to the police, ask to speak to a detective and explain the situation.
They are savvy enough to know how to deal with such situations - have a cruiser outside and bust somebody leaving the apartment, and then go in and search. Chances are something like that would seem random enough that your (somewhat dimwitted) neighbor would not put 2 and 2 together and think the police were following that other person for other reasons - and that is why the police came knocking on his door.

Again - explaining this to a police officer/detective, by light of day, in the police headquarters, should at least let you know what they intend to do, if anything. Also, they are on notice to not mention your name.

Then again, maybe I have been watching too many episodes of Law & Order…

15

I had a similar issue with a neighbor. There was nonstop drama and probable drug dealing.

What I’d do is “run an errand” and call the police to report a noise problem. (The “errand” is so that your neighbors don’t hear you through the walls.) The police WILL come out and (perhaps) see evidence of dealing, or Meemaw will say something. Keep doing this every time there’s a fight. Eventually, the landlord will get sick of the police involvement, evict the problem tenants, and they become someone else’s problem. If nothing else, it gives you grounds to terminate the lease because you don’t have the quiet use and enjoyment of your home. (I know moving is a PITA, but sometimes, it’s necessary.)

But make sure you report it as a noise problem. Unless you live in a low-crime community with bored cops, they probably won’t anything about this guy. As Oakminster pointed out, you can also go to your county’s agency on aging and let them know there is potential elder abuse. They can go in without the police.

16

MsRobyn has a great strategy in place, OP.

Joey P, my parents are dealing with a guy who’s dealing much harder, much worse stuff (in a really nice neighborhood too). You think you’re immune to stuff the more expensive real estate gets, but the owner got older and his loser 40 something son with a girlfriend with 4 kids all by different fathers moved in. Chaos, welfare abuse and selling drugs ensues.

17

If it were me I would move, particularly if my main concern were the safety and comfort of my own family. Even if it meant loosing the deposit, I’d just amortize it over the months I had been there and let it go. Plan B would be to have a casual chat with the landlord and ask when the neighbors lease is up and does he know if they will be renewing, because the regular foot traffic and late night shouting isn’t really what you want your kids to be living around. And see what he says, and if he acts like he wants to do anything about it, and then go from there.

18

Personally, I wouldn’t talk to the landlord. Lots of them (and my mom is one that cares, but it’s very evident she does) don’t give two shits where their money comes from so long as they get it.

19

I don’t think the landlord will care about noise complaints; none of mine ever did. Neither will the police.

20

Unless you anticipate immediate harm to you or or family, let him alone. I’ve no idea what people see in prescription drugs, but it’s not as if his business affects you. You might just friendlily mention that you can hear their private quarrels.
There are worse neighbours you may get. At least he’s not burying dogs alive in his backyard.