Isn't there someone in the State Offices who can be contacted in the hopes they'll do something? I just find all this incredulous that those paid to enforce the laws are turning a blind eye to those breaking it. What's the purpose of paying for law enforcement if they'll not do the job they were hired to do?

I did finally on Oct 20, fill out a 'complaint' to the city's 'code enforcement' division. It's the place you report abandoned, run down, or otherwise dilapidated houses and lands to. They sent back an email thanking me for the report and 2 of them were out here the next business day taking pictures of the house and yard. Never saw them again, never heard from them as to the 'status' of the complaint, but you gotta figure a month is enough to investigate.

Property owners of abandoned houses can be FINED for allowing the activity to continue and they should have contacted the 'owner', the Niece by now. Wish they would tell ME what's going on. They probably just filed everything and will do nothing.

So now we all just sit and watch the looting, and the 'deliveries' to whoever is living in there. Yesterday the back door (the only one really that opens) wide open flapping in the wind. Not sure if someone opened it just as I drove by, or if it's just not latched and blowing around. I'm checking again today. No action last night that I saw, but then I'm not really going out of my way to watch it anymore unless I see something overt.

Just not worth my time and effort. Guess my new friend up the street gave up too, since she was more ferocious than I on watching and calling the police. There is no way to win this through legal channels. Now I'm almost hoping that someone does burn it down this Winter. It would sure solve a lot of problems.

I think this was mentioned before, but has anyone tried the local newspaper to see if they'd be interested in finding out why illegal activity has been allowed to continue at that house?

Great question Homer. News Media 101. We have 5 local news channels here and two of them specialize in 'troublshooter' stories. One is more aggressive than the other and I might go to them if I can get anybody else to do it with me. I HATE being the only one to complain. It looks like a tiny problem if nobody will support me. We have so many neighbors who SEE stuff but just won't get involved.

BUT last night. Oh ho! At least 3 times a car pulled up directly across that driveway and inside light went on, then off and the car zoomed away. I'm getting used to that routine. It's either a drop-off or pick-up or delivery. So about an hour later, ZOOM, 3 police cars came. One parked in front of my house, one next door and one farther down. Interesting since they usually all park right in front of the old guy's house and down the side street.

3 police get out, spotlight my nemesis's house across the street, and then proceed to go around the empty house for 10 minutes of the 'light show'. Very funny to watch them shining lights in the BARRED windows as if that would do anything? They probably never went inside (as usual) but sure did a fun show. Then they all left. We will never know who called them or why, except maybe someone noticed the security door flapping in the wind, or maybe a light inside from Bad Gal boxing up stuff for pick-up. She's probably still in there doing her thing. How easy to hide and just pretend not to be there when you KNOW the police won't be coming in no matter what. Ugh.

Then again, we had two nicely gang dressed guys on bikes earlier in the day who were attracted to the huge overflowing trash can from the previous looting. It's right at the fence so you just have to reach over and pick. They rode off and 1/2 hour later, while I was driving to my favorite thrift store, there the 2 were, with a group of transients who were gathering in one of the favorite spots for the night. I'm pretty sure the 2 bike guys with all the fancy clothes were drug sellers. They were nothing like the transients but sure seemed to be 'cozy' with them. I figured they might tell the group where they could find a nice warm open house for our cold nights. Could have been, but I saw no carts and they ALWAYS have huge, overflowing shopping carts with them wherever they go.

So another mystery police hunt. Only twice this week so far, things are slowing down.

If I ever find out a follow-up to that other drug house up the street, I'll think about going to the news with 'our' story. So far, nothing has happened with that one either. I really have lost faith in our local law enforcement and courts. Let your dog poop on the sidewalk and you get arrested, loot a house and NOTHING. Something is broken.

And if you took matters into your own hands to stop all the looting, you'd be the ones to get arrested.

Aha! Just after I posted, my neighbor and also the other lady up the street called to say that HAZMAT was at the old guy's house! Male and female walked around the two sides (it's a corner) and took pictures of all the garbage spread over the driveway and all the overgrowth in the back yard. Then they were gone. My neighbor up the street said she had called the police earlier because the back security door was wide open. No police showed up but Hazmat did so we are figuring that the police decided to not bother coming, and just let Hazmat handle whatever.

Don't know what this will do, but maybe the pictures will go in the file I started with Code Enforcement and it may help our 'case'. Fingers crossed.

Hi Sorta,

I was just wondering, do the police just not believe you about everything you know is going on and/or have to wait until there's a dead body or a fire or anything other than 'merely' stealing and dealing?

It just occurred to me, and yes maybe I watch too many cop shows, could it be there is some undercover work going on there that you don't know about. Maybe that home is one of a string of old people easy pickings that they've a 'career' out of. Could be the cops are trying to find the 'head honcho'. And my imagination could be working over time.

Good thoughts butterflybabe. I soooo wish there was some sort of 'bigger plan' out there for this sort of thing. Truth is that the police are being told by 'higher ups' that they are to simply 'catch and release' all these looters, because the DA won't prosecute, because the OWNER (now they old guy's Niece who is handling the estate) won't press charges. It's a losing battle all around. IF the police actually arrested some of those guys I helped them catch, they would do a load of paperwork, reports, booking, housing, court arraignments, etc. THEN the DA would say, there is not enough evidence to prosecute for anything other than trespass, which is a misdemeanor and a small fine.

I can see the point from the patrolman's view. Why do a load of paperwork when it will go nowhere, AND they are being TOLD not to arrest. They are under pressure to NOT do their jobs. Still, we in the neighborhood are left with looters, criminals, all sorts of drug addicts, transients, etc. Our little crew is doing a good job of watching and reporting, and then feeling terribly let down every time. So frustrating.

As for 'head honcho', we and the police pretty much know who it is and she's been arrested a load of times for drugs, breaking and entering, squatting, forgery, etc. Each time, it's a minor court appearance and a small fine since nobody seems to want to follow through. She's 54 years old and this is her life. Befriend old people, rob them, sell the stuff to buy drugs. What a life! She's very good at spinning a story. Very believable and very bold. Reminds me of the 'grifters'. Make friends, pretend to be who you are not and eventually rip off everyone you know. Stupid, but she seems to do it well.

Her JOB was a home care aid. Uhhuh. Imagine how that would enable her to rob the old people she's caring for? Yup. She lost her license when they caught her stealing drugs from the house of one of her 'charges'. And also when she tried to cash some forged/stolen checks from that person. She forged her own brother's checks! He did press charges, but that went nowhere either. She does have a restraining order on her from someone who testified against her in court. Doesn't mean anything. Her brother, was in prison for about 6 years, is now out. Could be he is one of the older guys I've seen lately doing the looting in broad daylight. It runs in the family. Nobody is safe.

This entire saga would turn out great IF the stupid, head in the sand, 60 year old, Niece would just say YES, prosecute them all. It would be a totally different matter.

Hopefully with the report I filed with Code Enforcement (and they came and took pictures) and then yesterday, Hazmat came and took pictures, along with the hundreds now of police calls for breaking in, etc, that something will eventually get the Niece to cooperate. They city can fine her daily if she allows this to continue as it is probably now classified as 'abandoned/public nuisance'. Crossing fingers that they are in contact with her and threatening her with action if she doesn't do something. Best case now is Hazmat comes back and boards up the house (again for the 3rd time). SHE has to pay for all this stuff and I'm sure she doesn't want to expend any money for cleanup, boardup, etc. Can't figure out why they just don't sell the place, EXCEPT Hazmat told me that IF it gets sold, it must be totally cleaned out by a Hazmat approved team, and then Hazmat must go in again and certify that it is safe to live in. Otherwise, the place is still uninhabitable. Might be the reason why there is no sale going on.

But our best bet is for sure the 'violent' aspect. Someone will do something if they find a body or a fire. I can't tell you how many times the fire department, Hazmat, and police guys have 'suggested' that a fire would solve everyone's problems. Yup, they are saying that out loud. I'm almost wishing someone would set the place on fire and then this would all be over.

I must get an alibi set up, just in case....

I just keep shaking my head that no one in the law enforcement area, DA included, doesn't what to do something to put a stop to all the phone calls and what not. How often does a person have to be ARRESTED before a judge says enough is enough, and gives them a place to stay at public expense? Including a new wardrobe.

So last night the fun continued. At 5:30pm a silver car (which my neighbor and I had seen parked in front of the empty house all the night before) pulled up ACROSS the street from my house. Yup, directly across. This is 3 houses away from the empty house. Out got the 2 adult males I'd been watching since last weekend when they were in there for over an hour and then carted away a bunch of items. That time, they were in a red car, this time the silver.

They casually got out, stood there for a moment, casually walked to the corner, paused, one walked across the street and the other stayed on the same side and just went around the corner. They met up at the back yard fence of the house and they both went in through the now torn again fence and across the back yard.

I called the gal 2 doors North to alert her and then my next door neighbor. We all watch the happenings. No one seen for 1/2 hour so I finally got extremely angry at them parking by MY house and called the police dispatch just to 'document' the guys and car etc. I told them no police were needed since they probably wouldn't find the guys anyway, but that these are the same 2 from last weekend.

Dispatch sent cars, BUT they didn't arrive for over an hour. By that time, the passenger had come out walked to the car, paused, walked PAST the car up the street and then came back, paused and then went back towards the house. 3 minutes later, the DRIVER appears, not from the house direction but from the OPPOSITE direction. He had to have walked AROUND the entire block and then came back to the car.

These guys are not stupid. The passenger was obviously looking to see if the coast was clear, was on his cell phone the whole time and then as he leaves, the other guy comes from the wrong direction and gets in and drives off, UP the side street, probably picking up the passenger on the way. I think they are looking out for the police and being careful. Check, call, go. Makes sense.

I assume they will be back tonight to gather the goodies they packed up last night but didn't take. They took nothing. Really hating these 'new' arrivals who I am beginning to suspect are the new boyfriend and perhaps ex hubby and or brother of the Bad Gal. He brother just got out of prison a few months back.

Can hard wait for the 'next' incident.

EDIT: Police stopped by last night and spotlighted the house again. Just a few minutes outside the fence and then gone. Dunno if someone called, or if they are just being vigilant now for some reason. Maybe they thought the little white 2 door car parked in front was the silver 4 door car with spoiler I'd reported? Duh? Nothing like my description and if they cared to ask, that white car belongs to a Border Patrolman who lives across the street and someone keeps taking his parking spot lately. Go figure on the lack of communication of the police who come out here to put in their appearances.

Yesterday, just before 5 am, single male casually walked across the street from my side and up the street and through the torn fence and into the back yard of the house. At 11 am he emerged and came out the fence and walked up the side street out of sight. All very casual.

At 2:30pm FOUR males (we think they are our gang members from the Apartments next to me) walked down the side street (they had been roaming the neighborhood again showing their 'colors'. Into the torn fence, around the back of the house, around to the front, up the front stairs (nobody does that), where they rattled the front door, pulled at the bars on the side windows, back around to the back, looking at the stuff scattered on the ground, looking into the metal storage sheds (which are pretty bare now) and then back out the fence and back up the side street where they had appeared. It was kinda funny since they all just stayed 'in line' like they were marching. Strange people.

So today I went over to see why they only spent about 2 minutes on all that 'looking' and saw that the gal's hubby up the street (the one who also calls the cops frequently) had indeed made good on his promise to board up the garage window, had also put a 2x4 across the garage side door, had double chained the security door of the house and relocked the garage sliding door. Looks good, but all it will do is slow down the looters. At least he did something for the neighborhood safety. Kudos to him.

Today, very calm so far. Can hardly wait for the next big event. Niece STILL has not paid the taxes for this year or the extra ones from last year. She has until Dec 10 before they are defaulted and start getting interest and penalties. It will be fun to see if she doesn't pay and then the whole thing may change. That will show she intends to just abandon this house. Maybe we will make her 'an offer she can't refuse'. Waiting...

If she defaults on the taxes doesn't that mean someone can take ownership of the house by paying those taxes?

I am lax in my reporting. Geez. Yes, Homer, if she defaults and doesn't pay for FIVE years, the city will take possession of the house. If someone else starts paying those taxes, AND takes up residence there, AND makes 'improvements' THEY can claim right of ownership (if not challenged). It's called: Adverse Possession and is a real law here. Amazing. Usually though it's a tough thing to prove if the 'owner' decides to challenge it and reclaim the property.

I just hate it all.

Today: Got a call from my neighbor lady (my partner in crime) and there was a guy on a bicycle 'circling' the house. I looked out and watched him. It was like a shark circling it's prey, getting closer and closer every revolution. Funny. Finally he stopped at the fence to the driveway and lo and behold, ANOTHER guy handed him a bag. Then he rode off a small distance, and the other guy hopped out and loaded what looked like maybe an old 1950's plastic radio onto a small luggage dolly and actually spent some time using bungy cords to secure it. Then he walked up the block the same way the bicycle guy went.

I decided to FOLLOW them this time to see where they were headed. I often walk up that way anyway to the park and post office. I stayed slowly behind the dolly guy and before long, the bicycle guy rode back and took the dolly and rode off with it. Bungy guy kept walking in the same direction and so did I on the other side of the street. At the corner of the main drag, I got a red light and the walker got across. BUT I saw the bicycle guy go directly INTO the park! Aha! The bungie guy did not, but instead turned in between the post office and a medical center in the opposite direction. I think he suspected I was following him and was trying to get away.

So I continued walking towards the park and in a few, the bicycle guy came out, rode past me, I looked up and smiled, and he continued. He did NOT have the dolly.

There were about 4 transients blocking my sidewalk, so I had to walk out around a parked car in the street and back. THEY were trading drugs and food. I saw clearly little packets being 'examined'. Fun. 3 men and one gal. I continued to the park, saw 6 transients at various tables, just chatting. No shopping carts IN the park for several days. I think they did another 'cleanout'. I walked the entire loop, said hi to everyone, and then headed back home. Bicycle guy was coming back my way on the other side and did NOT come into the park. Lost sight of him.

So now I know the two transient types who are just trying to get small bits to score drugs or whatever. THESE are the same two I saw a week or so ago when they were here and then I saw them a few blocks away with a group of transients. I recognized the guy on the bike who wears the SAME plaid pants all the time. Yup, now I've see his face up close too. Interesting guy.

Don't wanna mess with them. The could be dangerous. They have a habit of purse snatching, robbing businesses nearby, etc. Not good people to get on your bad side.

So now I will just watch for awhile and see if they come back for more goodies.

I'm just about to write a 'nasty-gram' to the niece and tell her to get her act together because SHE is putting our neighborhood in peril with all these low life thieves. Maybe I can light a fire under her enough to at least list the stupid place for sale.

Wish me luck.

Be super careful, Sorta.

Last night at 10:30 pm, just as rain was starting (more like heavy misting) a transient with shopping cart came down the street and the clickity clack stopped right at the empty house's driveway. Never saw the guy or cart come past there. I'm assuming he spent the night. Dunno how he got the cart over the fence or where it went. Garage little door WIDE open this morning. Always something.

Wrote a letter to the niece and am revising it a million times. Finally got what I thought was a great copy (detailing everything I could and begging for her help) when I suddenly realized that by putting my name, address, and phone on it, that SHE might get uppity and sue me or get a restraining order for harassment. Gotta revise it again to make it totally anonymous and then send it. Will simply ask her to call our local PD and say she will press charges, etc. Dunno if it will work, but at least I didn't put my name in blazing lights for her to shoot at.

Good move, that.

Some sorta good news this morning at 7:00 am. Got up and saw 3 small pickup trucks (one with the City logo). Hurried to get dressed and walked over to find 'Daniel' who is the one I sent my Code Enforcement request to. He was polite but didn't really want to chat. they spent an hour cleaning up the junk outside the house and said they would be boarding it up. They left and haven't seen them since. No boarding yet. Maybe another crew? This group looked like 'temp' help from somewhere. I warned them about possible needles but nobody seemed to care. Daniel said that the 'owner' CAN'T do anything about anything because she is so far away. I told him she doesn't want to do anything. No response on that. Oh well. I tried. Seems nobody really wants any information from those of us who really know anything. Guess this is the way the world works. I on the other hand, would have gladly taken anything anyone wanted to tell me if I were the one in charge. Disappointing, but at least they did a minor cleanup of all the junk in the driveway and some in the back yard.

Waiting for the 'next' thing to happen IF it ever does.

The transient who I followed 2 weeks ago seems to be living in the house. The cleanup by Code Enforcement lasted 2 days. Now stuff is being strewn around again. Trash cans were placed along the side away from the gate they jump over. They are back now, positioned for easy climbing in and out. Yesterday, found 2 huge trash bags full of bottles and cans stashed under the big pepper tree on the side street and a propane tank just outside the fence. I assume they are waiting for the 'pick up'. This morning, I looked out the window just in time to see the SAME transient climbing out of the yard and walking up the street as he has several times. Must be going to breakfast.

MORE: Yesterday I got a call from the 'caretaker', ex boyfriend of Bad Gal. Since this last April, when I saw Bad Gal with ANOTHER man, I've been trying to convince the ex that he's an EX. He is not getting it. UNTIL...He called to talk for an hour and a half! He was distraught. Seems that he has a bar on the corner where he lives and is a frequent flyer. Not a heavy drinker, just goes there for 'company'. That's where he first met Bad Gal 4 years ago. Actually SHE was the aggressive type and quickly picked him as her next target. He still lives with his mother (who is now in hospice) and he's very lonely.

So for 4 years he has been 'supplying' Bad Gal with trips to the Casinos, money for gas, 'loans' for everything, you name it, she asks, he gives. When I told him she had a new guy (who she introduced to me as her new boyfriend/fiance more than a few times, poor ex just didn't believe me I guess. The phone call was because: He goes to the bar on a 'regular' schedule. Same nights, same times. The night this happened, he went on a night he never goes. SHE was there with the new boyfriend at the bar, kissing and all that good stuff.

Poor ex saw it all, remembered my 'description' of the new guy and finally put 2 and 3 and 4 together. Uhhuh. He gets it now. He's been dumped but is still hoping it was all a mistake. Yup, he still wants to believe they are still together. I had to talk and talk to try to convince him she's only after his money. What healthy male dates someone for 4 years and NEVER has physical contact????? Sure sign for me.

So now he's in the dumps, mom is still in hospice at the facility. He thinks she's coming home soon, but I am skeptical. Hope she gets better, but her legs are so swollen she can't walk, etc. He visits her every day without fail. When she is no longer around I worry about what he will do all alone. Mom is a bit nuts, as is his sister, but he cares for both of them when they need help, which is almost constantly. Poor guy, sweet and kind and generous, but not too savvy when it comes to figuring out people who take advantage.

Hopefully he really believes what he saw and just avoids this gal. I'd love to never hear from her again. She delights in telling him 'tales' that get him upset. Latest is that his all time favorite teacher from Jr. Hi. (who I go out to lunch with once a month in our little group) told ME all his 'disabilities' and I told Bad Gal. OH! So not true. We are sworn never to discuss our students or families and she certainly would not tell me anything that would go against that. HE believed her and wanted me to get in touch with his old teacher and have her call him. He wouldn't tell me why. Finally after the big reveal at the bar, he admitted why he wanted her to call him. It was to see if she told me stuff about him. Sigh. Poor guy. Bad Gal knows he gets upset and this would have been a real betrayal of trust to him. Thank goodness I cleared it up for him. I am really hating Bad Gal.

She also told him that 'Gang members are after them' because they consider the old guy's house THEIR territory now and Bad Gal and the ex are interfering. Wha?? I had to try to convince him that the 'gang' members are HER friends and she's the one who is running the show on the looting. Sigh. Messssy stuff. Hope it all calms down.

So far, still the one transient going in and out. AND finally figured out, I think, why my infrared cameras are showing 'light' in the windows of the house when there is no electric or gas there anymore. Infrared also picks up 'heat signatures'. So the room with the 'lights' showing every night, must be the room where the transient(s) are congregating. Makes a load of sense now that I think of it. Oh well. Hope they are happy and warm. Probably have a portable heater of some type they are using. Makes it even more scary that the place will catch on fire. AND no water in there so no way to even attempt to put it out even if it's a small start. Ugh.

NOW it's not only the crooks stealing and the transients living in the empty house, it's the NEIGHBORS! Saw a mid 50ish guy jump over the driveway gate. He walked to the back yard, took something from the garage (door is still wide open despite police being there 2 days ago and 'inspecting'. They never closed the door, duh.

He hopped back out with each hand holding something the size of a book and casually walked up the block and INTO the corner house. This is a guy who has lived there for several years, owns a concrete business and frequently has concrete trucks and other work vehicles clogging the street. So now we have 'ordinary' citizens who just can't resist the temptation to steal from the dead. It's a sad commentary on life.

I just wonder how many of his workers/family/friends will now start looting the place. No fear of being arrested. Only problem might be a 'turf war' between the neighbors, transients, gang members, and other assorted looters, when they all meet up at the same time. Should be fun to watch.

They've seen nothing happens if someone is caught at the house, so can you expect anything different? Many peoples' true nature comes out when they know no one is watching them and nothing will happen if/when they do something against the law.

Soooo yesterday morning, my neighbor called to say she watched along with her ride (they go walking the mall in a group) while TWO vehicles loaded up with boxes and bags from the house. She said it was 7:30 am (I was happily sleeping), and her ride lady was watching it happen for about 5 minutes before my neighbor got out of the house to leave.

Huge van and huge older pick up truck. A male with snow white hair, and a small female with dark long ponytail. Took them just a few minutes to load all the stuff (like Santa's sleigh?) and then they jumped in and zoomed away. Amazing as it was broad daylight again and all sorts of people coming and going AND cars they parked in front of on the street were leaving for work too! Nobody even bothered to call the cops. I think we have ALL had the 'treatment' and just don't want to bother.

Watched all day and all night recording, but I think they didn't come back. I'm pretty sure it's Bad Gal's friends given the description. AND I've seen them before and have pictures of them. Gonna show my neighbor. Bad Gal introduced the guy to me as, 'my photographer, my lawyer, a real estate agent', all at different times. He of course is just a crook like she is. I think she's doing her Christmas last minute shopping.

Why wouldn't these people help themselves. It's obvious that it's all there for the taking with no consequences. Maybe once it's empty, all this will stop. Maybe it's time to hurry things along - maybe put up a sign saying, "Come get your goodies - quick before they are all gone!"

All this stealing, without consequences, just blows my mind. If law enforcement has their hands tied with this type of burglary, perhaps it's time someone with clout start getting things changed. A burglary is a burglary, with or without the owner pressing charges. Theft is theft, period.

That's my thought exactly, Homer! Theft is theft. Stealing anything is still stealing even if the guy is dead. Going INTO a house whether or not it's empty, is still trespassing. BUT our local cops are getting 'orders' from higher up the ranks (they keep hinting about that to me, almost pleading for someone to do something) so they can't arrest anyone. I know our jails are full, we have limited staffing (cutbacks all over) and it's taxpayer money that has to pay for the 'room and board' and the trials. Still, letting this crew get away with crime just sets a very bad example and makes the normal citizens frustrated and angry. Nothing much to do except what I've done, called cops, recorded video, taken pictures, kept a log, got City Code Enforcement to investigate. All they did was take pictures and do a 2 hour cleanup of all the spilled trash. Big deal, it's building up again. AND they said they would be boarding up the place. They haven't and probably won't.

Police are however, cracking down on transients. Clearing them out of the park (scary place) where they all 'camp' with tons of filled shopping carts and tarps and bedding and tents. They 'nest' there in huge groups. They take up all the picnic tables, hang out in the restrooms (scary scary). Lately, they have been being 'scattered' by the police. Groups are only 3 or so, and they keep them moving. They arrested that one gal for drug selling and yesterday, they swooped in on a group of 3 guys also looked like drug deal going down. The groups are finding new places to camp and you never know where they will be. Business owners must be complaining because they are tending to hang out right near the back or front doors of the businesses now. I'm sure the customers don't want to walk by them.

These are not people 'down on their luck', but career homeless by choice. Loads of groups have offered housing, food, drug counseling, education, but this group of about 12 carts and as many people or more, just are resistant. They prefer their current lifestyle. So sad. Lots of help there to get them on their feet and they just want to hang out drinking and doing drugs and selling stolen stuff from...you guessed it...the empty house. Arrraaghhhhh!

Sorta, if all this stuff hadn't been stolen what would have happened to it. I mean if all his stuff had just sat there, untouched, what would happen to it. Would the city just dump it on a landfill or sell the good stuff at auction. Maybe some think these creeps are doing the city a favor. To recycle or dump. Don't mistake my feelings because I will never understand how anybody can use an item they hadn't paid for. Just thinking