Potential Drug House

Dear Bordeaux HOA:

Blog Update: http://bordeauxassociation.blogspot.com/

 

 

One drug house in a neighborhood has the potential to affect the quality of life for everyone in our neighborhood. If a drug house crops up in our neighborhood, most people notice it immediately because of all of the negative effects it has on the entire area. Increased crime, foot and vehicle traffic, and suspicious people loitering are all common side effects of a drug house. Being an alert and involved neighbor may help identify the problem early, and keep it from getting out of hand. If you see something out of the ordinary please call the police so they can start to monitor the traffic and put an end to any criminal activity.

 

We have had a few complaints of a potential drug house in our community so please be on the lookout for anything unusual and call our Everett Police Crime Prevention unit at 425-257-7497 or 911. We have dedicated Police staff that our Block Watch program allows us to work with to put an end to these type of situations quickly.

 

Most often, people suspecting a drug house in their neighborhood will first notice an excessive amount of foot and/or vehicle traffic coming and going from the location. Keep in mind that traffic in and out of a particular residence does not necessarily mean that the location is a drug house. It might be an indicator, but there are many residents who simply have lots of visitors and are not involved in drug activity.

The Everett Police Department combats drug houses from two fronts. Our patrol officers will often watch drug houses and make contacts with people coming and going from a location. Sometimes those contacts lead to arrests, and information is provided to the officers about what is going on inside the residence. That information may then be passed on to our Anti-Crime Team (ACT) or the Snohomish County Regional Narcotics Task Force.

 

If an arrest for drugs is made on the property, or we can directly relate the arrest to the property, the Everett Police Department also follows up with civil enforcement. That is where our sector Administrative Sergeant's fit in. Our sectors Administrative Sergeants create a file on drug-related arrests on the property, and then they work with the City Attorney's Office to send the owner a drug nuisance abatement warning letter.

This letter advises the owner of the property that there was a drug-related arrest on their property, and directs them to contact one of the two Administrative Sergeants. The Administrative Sergeant then works with the property owner to correct the problem; be it closely monitoring the property, or evicting the tenants.

 

As a resident of a neighborhood, there are some things you should be looking for if you suspect a drug house. Excessive foot traffic to and from a house, loitering around a house, frequent short stay traffic, hand to hand exchanges of drugs or money, and a sudden increase in crime in the area are just a few. If there is a drug house in your neighborhood, you will usually see several of these factors present.

 

If you suspect a drug house in our community, you should report any suspicious activity to the police department. If it is in progress, it should be reported to 911. If it is not in progress, it can be reported to the sector Administrative Sergeant. Being aware of what is going on in your neighborhood, and not being afraid to get involved are critical components to keeping this kind of activity out of your neighborhood.

 

Vehicle Theft

           

Vehicle theft has been on the rise everywhere and it's a problem that's not going to go away until we as a community commit to protecting our vehicles. As colder weather approaches, so does the temptation to warm up your car in the morning. Leaving your car running unattended –even for just a few minutes, leaves you wide open for auto theft. Many have felt the sinking feeling that comes with returning to find their car has been stolen. If you like to warm up your car in the morning, prior to leaving for work, make a commitment to stay with it. If you find yourself making a quick trip into a convenience store for coffee, always turn off and lock your vehicle. Most car thieves are opportunistic and it takes Just Seconds to drive your car away. Steering wheel locking clubs and car alarms are effective auto-theft deterrent devices that can help protect your vehicle.

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Bordeaux HOA