WWS12D? NBR LONG

BarefootContessa · February 2013

The house next door to us is a rental. The landlords own several head shops in town (this will tie into stuff later). We were friendly with the guy who lived there for six plus years (he worked for the head shops and did sell some pot on the side--dh and I side eyed it, but he was "harmless" and we both agreed to ignore it), and he moved out last August because the owners wanted to remodel the place and rent it for more money. Fine.

In December the landlord informed us that they had a mother with a teenage son and younger daughter moving in to the newly remodeled house. The husband worked for an oil rig and was rarely in town.

FF to Jan on. The woman moved in. Ish just got weird. We never saw any kids coming or going from the house. Just a woman and her boyfriend and two dogs. About a month ago they got in a knock down drag out fight and she locked him out of the house in the snow. That was the last of him. She doesn't appear to have a vehicle, or a job. For about 3 weeks the house sat empty. No dog, no woman. I thought it was strange but then figured maybe she went on vacation--or perhaps she was the one who worked on an oil rig. She came back two weeks ago, but again no kids or vehicles in sight.

Last week I had to run home on lunch and let our dogs out and when I pulled into our drive, a suspicious looking dude stepped out of their front door and stared me down with his arms crossed. I'd never seen him before and felt uncomfortable but ignored it.

Last night I was super sick and decided I needed to go to the 24 hour pharmacy to get some Claritan D. It was about 1 am and I popped out to my car. They have sheer curtains so I saw a person run across their living room after seeing me and slam a door shut. Then the same man came to the front bay window and stared me down again. There was a truck in the drive I'd never seen before. By the time I returned (20min later) it was gone and the lights were shut off in the house but the tv was on. I noticed that they left one of their side windows open and then thought to myself that it had been open for a few days/maybe even a week.

I laid in bed afterwards and my brain went crazy. I promise I am NOT a snoopy neighbor. Their behavior has been so bizarre it's almost hard to ignore. They aren't young college kids that would just be hanging out late at night. I'm nervous that they are either running a grow house or worse, making meth.

OK S12:

Am I completely crazy for being suspicious? WWYD? Would you give an anonymous tip to the police because you are raising your kid next door to suspicious behavior? Do you ignore it and hope for the best?

MrsAB1316 · February 2013

That's a toughie...

I'd certainly call if there is a chance they could be making meth. Not only does that stick to EVERYTHING in the house that the landlord just remodeled, but it could blow up. And, with your house next door... hell no.

Have you introduced yourself to the new tenants? I'd be skeeved out by constantly getting stared down....

Flamingemu · February 2013

I would probably ignore it, but I don't tend to notice my neighbors at all.

If you are worried about it, just call the local number to your police station and tell them there has been some suspicious activity in the neighborhood. Not necessarily your neighbors, but the hood in general. They may send out a patrol car to do a lap for a week. That may help some of the shadiness go away if they are actually doing anything wrong.

BarefootContessa · February 2013

anitalynn:
Is it weird? Yeah.

But are they doing anything wrong? I doubt it. I truly don't think you have any reason to call the police. What would you tell them when they asked why you were calling? Just that he stared at you with his arms crossed? That they haven't been home much? I don't think the police will think anything of what is going on.

If you are friendly with the landlord, call him.

That's what I'm thinking too. There isn't much I can do. Perhaps I watch too much breaking bad?

gingerfamily · February 2013

Based on the creepy guy staring you down and the no kids, no car thing? No.

Based on the stuff you decided was harmless? Maybe. Depends what the harmless stuff was.

BarefootContessa · February 2013

LoisLane23:
MrsAB1316:

That's a toughie...

I'd certainly call if there is a chance they could be making meth. Not only does that stick to EVERYTHING in the house that the landlord just remodeled, but it could blow up. And, with your house next door... hell no.

Have you introduced yourself to the new tenants? I'd be skeeved out by constantly getting stared down....

I wouldn't lead that phone call with, "I think my neighbor is making meth."

Which I wouldn't. I just don't want to be the ignorant neighbor if serious stuff is going down.

**And here is where you all are going to think I'm crazy** Sad thing is, I am wondering if the landlord is in on it. They gave DH a tour of the house when it was finished and when they were in the basement the landlord mention what a great "grow house" it would make. DH didn't really know what to say, so he just said nothing.

I think I'm just going to keep my mouth shut for a while and if it continues/worsens then I'll just make an anonymous tip that there is strange behavior taking place.

numb3rMel · February 2013

Um, you sound like a snoppy neighbor to me. Nothing you said sounds like anything other than now you're reaching for something to be wrong.

And really? They have sheer windows but are cooking meth? Come on! Even smart drug makers know you go with the black out curtains from Walmart.

BarefootContessa · February 2013

numb3rMel:
Um, you sound like a snoppy neighbor to me. Nothing you said sounds like anything other than now you're reaching for something to be wrong.

And really? They have sheer windows but are cooking meth? Come on! Even smart drug makers know you go with the black out curtains from Walmart.

Fair enough. I knew someone would think I was. It's just hard not to notice when your house is 14 feet from theirs and we're outside a lot with our dogs. I promise I don't patrol the neighborhoods with a fake badge and whistle.

mamaHippo23 · February 2013

The funny thing is if there were actually something illegal going on in that house, you would probably never know because they would be trying really hard to act normal and blend in. I doubt they would have a bunch of shady people hanging around to attract attention if they were hiding something. Just let them be, and steer clear. On the off chance it is a bad situation, you don't want to get personally involved or give them a reason to think you're snooping around.

Hyaline · February 2013

If you have a decent relationship with the landlord, I might say something--not accusatory, but kind of a "Hey, it looks like it's a different tenant moving in than the one we talked about, right? We haven't really met...know anything about them?" But it's not like staying up late is illegal, though I would be lying if I said I wouldn't keep an eye on them...and if there's another knock-down drag-out fight you could (and maybe should) call the police.