You have my 'word' on that promise. Handshake and all. *wink wink*

And in other Bad Gal news: Her ex boyfriend (yes he's finally coming around to straight thinking) called yesterday to say that in February, he got her a job working at a house he was doing some handyman stuff on. This was a very old friend of his family. So it's a 71 year old man with a handicapped son. Bad Gal was supposed to be 'organizing' the son's bedroom. So after one day only, the ex goes over to work, the guy says, "How well do you know this girl and her nephew?" Ummmm nephew? Seems that after only one day, she managed to call in her nephew (or someone she calls her nephew) to 'help' her, and after he left in the middle of working, the back door was left wide open and a 42" flatscreen TV that was to go in the son's bedroom and was still in the box, was MISSING.

It's obvious now that Bad Gal spotted goodies, got the nephew over to heft the heavy loot and then he disappeared. Ex didn't know of her 'nefarious' ways back then but now he's putting it all together. Man he was working for asked Bad Gal not to return ever but don't think he did anything about the missing TV.

What a nasty gal she is. Stealing from a handicapped kid. Smooth as sugar. She sure knows how to work the system in every way.

Poor ex now knows she's got a 'bad' side and is going to be not making contact with her unless she calls him and then will just be 'friendly' but not enabling. No more money, etc. She asked for money a few days ago. He said no. Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of men (or girls)?

After reading your latest, Sorta, several possibilities passed through my mind. Several dealing with that gal not leaving the house under her own power to being escorted elsewhere by the men in blue. Going by this latest information, it's no wonder she keeps getting away with this garbage. She's lucky she doesn't try this same stunt in some other state, there are people who wouldn't take kindly to her antics and would take steps to insure she didn't do it again. But the door revolves and her slot is going to come around sometime.

Amen, Homer, Amen!

Just took the opportunity to go over to the house directly next door to the old guy's house. Nice family, new baby (so cute!) and they were having a yard sale. I waltzed over, bought a little sweater which I will donate somewhere but did get to speak to them. I confirmed the Bad Gal had told them she was a RELATIVE and that she had showed them a 'paper' that proved she could live there. I advised (without all the details) that she wasn't a relative, had no authority to be there, and was a con-woman, that the paper was forged, and to call the police if they see ANYONE in that yard or messing around other than authorities. There was a language problem with them but the oldest boy and I were able to communicate fine (he translated for the others) and he even knew what kind of car Bad Gal drives. I didn't even know the model, but he did. That is one more 'lookout' that we can count on. Hopefully something good will happen soon. School is out for the Niece on the 9th so if all goes well, she will be hotfooting it out here to deal with this mess. Detective Sorta back on the job.

The more eyes the better.

FINALLY something new to report!

Yesterday I was going through the Sheriff's website to see who's in jail or has warrants and FOUND, our Bad Gal has a warrant for her arrest for 'drug paraphernalia'. Had to be a crack pipe or maybe some needles. It's listed as a misdemeanor so it's something not so bad and no drug charges listed. Yippee!

I think from the date of Monday a week ago, she got caught in one of our 'cell phone stings' for people using cell phones while driving. The police do them about twice a month now in different locations in our city. Catch a lot of stuff, impound cars, arrest people for things, ticket the cell phone users. Nice deal.

Anyway, I think from that date and the location (where she frequents) she must have gotten stopped and they found something. So she has a 'must appear' warrant. Ha. Finally she's going to court. Wish it was for the break-in, but maybe they will look at her record and find a few other things before her court date WHEN they finally find her to arrest her.

So now her girlfriend is wanted, and she is wanted, and if I knew the girlfriend's boyfriend's last name, he's probably wanted too. Great group.

See! Bunch of amateurs. Now how long will it be before something is done with the building and/or lot? Will anything change before the Fall, or the end of the year? Place your bets now folks

A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.

Maybe I can put up a 'Peacock included free with sale' sign in the front of the house? Or better yet, 'Peacock MUST be sold with house'. Or 'Buyer MUST take peacock with purchase!'?

So far nothing more happening over there. I was sure the Niece would be here this week to start getting rid of the place. If not, she or the family will be paying those huge property taxes. They reappraised the house effective the day the old guy died. The tax site said they would be mailing the 'notice' of supplemental taxes due on June 7th. She should have that notice by now. Taxes went from 400 a year to over 2000! Market value for that property.

And the Bad Gal left the lights on inside and they have now been on for 2 months straight. The electric bill will be higher and the niece should notice that for sure. AND I wonder where the water bill will be sent? Bad Gal turned it on herself somehow. Meter read will be soon and we are watching the mailbox over there to see if anything goes in. No mail over there for almost a year. Bad Gal said she changed her address to that one. Hummmmm.

Gotta go check to see if she's in jail today. Warrant for her is only 1000 bail but she won't have that. She was seen at the casinos all the time she was 'looting' the house and a month after. Wonder where the money comes from? AND of course, she has to support her drug habit. What an interesting life.

Newest news! I've been monitoring the position of the locks and other things around the abandoned house since Bad Gal was kicked out by the police on May 14th. Everything was fine yesterday afternoon, but at noon, I noticed an old rickety ladder was MISSING from the garage area where it had been leaning.

Walked over and took a better look, and saw that although the fence lock was in same position, the DOOR lock was MISSING and the chain was hanging free. Came home and called police. Took them 45 minutes to arrive with 4 cars and real ADULT cops. Wheeee.

Showed them pictures of the door lock in it's usual state and they actually went INSIDE this time to see if anyone was in there. New for them.

Turns out, one of them is the same guy who kicked Bad Gal out. Nice. He knew all about her. Told me a few tidbits after I mentioned it might have been her or her friends looking for their drugs, etc. He laughed and said she has a looooong rap sheet and he agreed that the two drugs I mentioned were her favorites. Wow. And after I told him about the water being turned on, he volunteered that she had done this more than ONCE before. Ohhhhh! And he was the one who arrested her for that and for the drug charges just recently. He knows her well. Nice to know.

We don't know who cut the lock, or who stole the ladder. Might be the group of young guys across the street during their big fireworks 'show'. Good cover. But in any case, they left the door unlocked (no way to secure it and no lock to use. They turned OFF the inside light which has been on forever, and told me to call IF I see any lights INSIDE.

Good for them. Hopefully the Niece will get a call on this, but probably not. I also pointed out the HUGE rocket lying just short of that broken front window. The police guy said, "too bad it didn't hit, our problems would be over'. I laughed and agreed that I secretly hoped for the same thing. House burns down, nobody would be bothering anything. Evil of me.

So now I watch and wait. Dunno who was in there. If it was Bad Gal we might see her car, but could have been anyone. Missing ladder is weird.

Till new developments...

Oh, my gosh! A cop who knows the score. This is great! I was needing a little "Sorta's Neighborhood" fix.

Sadly, things like this are happening in many places; people "squatting" and claiming a house as their own; people breaking into homes while folks are on vacation, homes constantly being cased. Anything to support a drug habit, or to pay for ones own frivolous/illegal activities. And, the majority of law enforcement are too cowardly to do anything!

Yup, sad that the 'evidence' to actually convict and do anything really bad to the offender is lacking. Even with this empty house stuff, and the Gal with the long rap sheet and all the stuff she's done (at least squatted TWICE before this one) they really aren't doing anything major to her. Hate that. She needs to be locked away for a good period of time. Maybe she will get off the drugs too.

I'm on guard duty tonight. Hope if anything happens, that handsome, cop comes back. Love men in uniform.

Remember the days when if it didn't belong to you, you din't bother it? And if something did happen, no one was in fear of calling the police or getting involved? Too many of the wrong people know they'll only get a slap on the wrist if they do something wrong. And too much politics are at play today that keep those who should be locked up forever from being locked up. Oh, and let's not forget about the budget being short to allow lock ups and patrols.

The saying "it only takes good to do nothing for evil to flourish" seems to be running rampant these days. Few want to get involved for fear of retribution, so it becomes a vicious circle.

Well said, Homer6!

Ditto!

Oh, some good news though. It seems our local PD and the larger metro area PD (they don't cover us except in major stuff) are HIRING. Yup, it's about time to get some human, older, experienced, police around here. I'm so tired of teen looking, do nothing ones. Yesterday was 4 big, handsome, adult men who actually DID something. Didn't do what I would think (like relocking the door because they don't carry locks) but at least they actually went INSIDE for the first time when nobody was there, instead of saying 'we can't go in without the owner's permission'. Yup, they actually did their job.

If I had an extra lock I might be inclined to go over and relock the chain, but I bet that would last one night before it was cut off again. Maybe we should make bolt cutters illegal?

Sorta,

If you had not mentioned your love of 'men in uniform', if would have asked you about that 'bonus'!

So glad you're getting a little spice for everything you've done and been concerned about.

I would think if someone calls the police, and when they do a walk around and find an open door, they'd want to go inside to make sure no burglary has taken place. Or someone inside is in need of help. Saying they can't go in without the owner's permission sounds a lot like CYA from a previous experience. But, not having an inside ear, it's all speculation anyway.

Yeah Homer, I was very surprised and dismayed the first time I call the police 2 years ago and they didn't even go over the fence to check on what we KNEW were 2 ladies inside. I saw them go in, I had the neighbor guys watch all sides of the property, the lights went on, and when the police showed up, the lights inside went off and we all heard a rustling and movement inside. Despite all 'our testimony' the police just said they couldn't go in without permission. They didn't even try the door of yell, 'police'. Really started my disappointment of our local police.

This time however, they did a fair job and at least went in to check things out. Probably the decision is up to the 'lead' guy, who in this case, had been the one to evict the squatter, Bad Gal. So he knew the house, knew the situation and I guess is definitely older and wiser and willing to take chances. Maybe he was showing the new guys how to do it. He definitely was in charge.

Nothing new over there since. No light inside since Saturday when the police turned it off. We are all still watching. Gives me something to do when I get up at night on my potty breaks.

That first group of policeman might have decided it was the owner inside the house, despite what everyone was saying. Still, they could have knocked on the door to see if everything was all right--and checked IDs.

Sorta, I sent my sister a birthday card that said, "you know you're getting old when you get up in the middle of the night to go potty, and you see it's only 11:15 PM.

Ha Homer! You can send ME a dozen of those cards.

Any time, Sorta.

So last Thursday night right during Big Brother, a car was in front of the old guy's house for about 1/2 hour with the lights on. Thought it was probably kids going across the street to buy drugs so didn't investigate. 1 hour later, I see Bad Gal's Ford Escape parked in the driveway having just come OUT of the locked gate. SHE was behind it locking the gate and then got into the passenger side. She had to have cut the lock on the gate. Went over to investigate on Friday morning and found a brand new lock on the parking gate. Nice.

Called the ex-boyfriend (still not so sure he's actually thinking of himself as an ex), but in no uncertain terms told him of Bad Gal's escapades and for him to call HER and tell her the police were there, saw the unlocked back door, went inside, etc. Told him to tell her to NOT come around at all since the police were looking for her. Laid it on very thick.

HE came over Monday, we talked about everything, he insists she isn't in contact with him, but he said some things that he couldn't know unless she was. Being careful what I tell to whom.

SHE called me today. Oh joy! Again, accusatory with, "I heard from various sources that YOU said I had a long rap sheet, etc." I side-stepped a bit and we had a nice conversation about her still trying to get back into the house. I told her directly YOU were there Thursday night and changed the lock. She didn't know what to say so she agreed. Ha. I also told her I told the guy to call her to warn her (being nice).

She's still claiming to have a lawyer named Lorraine, but won't tell me what Law firm she works for. I doubt there is a Lorraine or if there is, she's not a lawyer. We had such a long talk with me trying to tell her to stay away, she's wrong, she had no right to sell the car or anything in the house and that people had seen her taking things out and putting them in her car.

Aha. She admits to selling the car, but 'only to pay for the lien on the house so the city wouldn't take it'. Oh dear. She knows nothing about nothing. I told her she can't take anything at all, nada that belongs in that house for any reason. I told her her 'lawyer' should have told her that if she's a good lawyer. I also said she should inform her lawyer of EVERYTHING she's done over there so if it goes to court, there will be no surprises. Taking bets on whether she will tell a lawyer (if there is one) anything of the kind.

She's insisting she has legal rights to live there Ibased on getting the water and trash in her name and changing her mailing address to that house) and will be back with the lawyer to confront the police and sue the police for harassment and slander. She thinks that entitles her to possess the house.Gets better and better. I told her she better come with the lawyer AND a signed and sealed document that says she has legal rights to be there and to sell things. This of course will never happen.

Now she's blaming the break-ins on her friend, Jason, who she said is at the house every day and is in the garage with the lights on, etc. He's the one she physically attacked and kicked out after taking rent money from him and he's a known heavy meth user. I'll check tonight to see if I see lights on.

It's a mess. She accused me of looking up her 'record' with the police and that the 'Burglary' charge was a mistake. I never saw a burglary charge. This is so funny. Told her all I knew about was a warrant for drug stuff and that I frequently check warrants for a lot of my acquaintances, not just her. She explained the charges were for 'needles' that her boyfriend (the one I know) gave her to dispose of. HE had already told me SHE begged for some of his mom's diabetic needles for a friend who couldn't afford her diabetic supplies and was in dire need. I believe the guy.

So lies and more lies, but at least I hope she got the point to NOT come around there for fear of police. I bluntly told her they are looking to arrest someone, anyone they see there. She mentioned the names of 3 other guys who were arrested over there, and nobody else knew their names. Nice. She's in on it all.

Dunno what's next. Saw someone who looked like a realtor taking pictures of the place yesterday. Might be gonna list it again now that the Niece got the extra property tax billing for over $1600 that's due by the end of the year. Hope something happens soon.

In the meantime, I told Bad Gal thanks for telling me about her 'history of crime' since I had no idea. Oh and she also said the break in was on a specific street here so I can check that and that she also got arrested for having a stolen check. She said she didn't know the car or the check was stolen. Do I believe her? Guess.

Be careful Sorta! I would hate for one of them to get retribution if they think you ratted them out.

Never turn your back on any liar.

A rule to live by, BeaSong.