Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Strange question
I'll just come out and ask my question and then follow up with a little back story.
If you *know* that someone in your neighborhood is a drug dealer, or at least frequently buys drugs from drug dealers, how do you (or do you) notify the police?
I know my neighbors smoke pot. And I know that they have had some pretty shady people come in and out of their house frequently. I hate to stereotype, but I'm positive the shady dudes are selling them drugs. Then there are other people, random people, coming in and out as well. Which makes me believe my neighbors are selling.
Well earlier this week I personally saw a drug deal go down. I was jogging and I saw my neighbor's roommate, we'll call him John, get in his car and drive off, (without shoes no less). As I was making my second lap around the neighborhood John was about a block away and down a side street... strange, I thought to myself. As I come up to the car John's sitting in the drivers seat with shadydude and John's got a wad of cash in his hand they are exchanging something. They drive off after I pass them. I'm making my way back around to my house and the same two dudes are another block away seemingly making *another* deal to some old lady... although no idea if they actually are this time.
Now I'm all for you doing your own thing in your own house. I don't agree with drugs, but it's your house, so whatev. However, I don't like the fact that they are selling/dealing at their house (NEXT DOOR to me) as well as throughout the neighborhood. Do I call the police right away if I ever see it again? Do I just call and make them aware of what I saw and generally see going on at their house? I'm semi-afraid of ratting them out and having them retaliate in some way.
Re: Strange question
Hm.
I'm fine with people smoking pot as long as they're otherwise normal people. But once creepy buyers/dealers start coming around, that's where I'd draw the line.
If you live in the city of Austin maybe you can use this new online reporting tool:
http://www.cityofaustin.org/police/reporting/default.htm
Pot is an illegal drug in the state of Texas. It makes no difference to me if they are smoking pot or crack, they are both illegal. Are you in Austin or a suburb. If you are in Austin, call 311 and let them know what you saw. If you are in a suburb, call the local PD # and let them know. You likely won't see any cops come out right away. They will likely just notify the narcotics unit and they will put out an unmarked car to monitor the situation. Once they feel like they have sufficient evidence they will get a warrant. You never know, you may not be the first person to make this report and they just needed a little more evidence. Good Luck!
*edit: I may be in the minority here but I see all too often what "just pot" can do to people/families/children so I have no tolerance for drug use what so ever.
TTC #1 since February 2011
BFP #1 1/14/12 EDD 9/24/12 m/c at 8w4d on 2/20/12
March 2012- Dx with PCOS, started metformin
July 2012- SA completely normal
In my previous house, the people across the street dealt. We weren't sure exactly what until the COPS told us it was meth. Yep, you read that right - THEY were the ones that told US.
We debated about what to do once we realized there was something going on, but like you said, we were afraid of retaliation. Before we had decided what (if anything) we were going to do, BF's car was hit while parked in front of the house in a hit and run. We were out front talking to the cop that came to file the report, and one of the guys that lived across the street waved. Totally normal, but the cop spotted it and jumped all over it - asked if we knew them, were friends with them, ever went over there, etc. We of course said no, we didn't even know them, but suspected they were dealing something. I guessed crack, and the cop corrected me and said "actually, it's meth." Lovely. So they clearly knew about it, but hadn't done anything (although maybe there was a good reason for this, I don't know).
Long story short, you can file anonymously. And I would. They're most likely aware of it, but it never hurts. We eventually moved, but were afraid we wouldn't be able to sell the house because of it. (It was crazy-obvious.) Good luck!
"There is a fine line between a princess and a witch...thinking you're one does NOT give you the right to act like the other." my grandmother
I agree. I'd let the cops know so that your conscience is clear. You've done what you can. If you're worried about retaliation maybe you could tell the person you speak to that. I'm sure they deal with it all the time.
GL, that's a freaky situation.
Totally agree with above posters.
Yea, I would at least tell someone.