The New Chapter of Sorta's Neighborhood

It's starting all over! Things have been calm and today (the day before the full moon), the gal who had been cleaning out the old guy's house (he died in November) came over, and said: "You are going to have new neighbors". SHE is moving into the house, with no rights, no legal grounds. She said she had contacted a lawyer and can move in and they will have to legally evict her. She is determined to get something out of the work she did boxing up things and organizing the 'hoard' a bit. She's absolutely nuts!

I thought it was going to be a dull summer, but there she is, bolt cutters, power drill to remove all the boarded up door stuff and new locks all around. It will be only a matter of minutes or hours until we have several police cars swarming the place. I can feel it coming. Amazing the nerve!

Oh joy. Updates when the news happens. Maybe even some pictures of her in handcuffs or better. I jokingly told her that she should be ready to 'assume the position' at the first sign of police. I wasn't really kidding. I can see this turning out badly.

I tried to warn her but of course it's really not my business so I will just watch the fun. She has already cut the locks on the gate and moved her car inside.

More news when things start to heat up. This is gonna be GOOD!

The nerve of some people!I would wait until she gets all her stuff settled and then report her. I got new neighbors you would love! A story for another time.

Ana

What the heck has she been smoking? Suuuuuure... yeah, she talked to a lawyer all right. What an idiot!

Actually Drac, you might be right. This is the same gal who self-medicates on pain pills. She would come over talking just fine, and within 1/2 hour dissolve into a slurred speech and confused state. Not alcohol, just the pills. He friend (the one who was with her today, and might be moving in with her) told me all that stuff.

They have now cut the locks on the gate, moved her vehicle inside and are removing all the boards that the professional security company put on. They said they have new locks and deadbolts for all doors.

The weirdest thing is she said there is a 'secret' passage or tunnel somewhere in the garage???? I'm just flabbergasted. I keep thinking she will come over to 'borrow' some tools (as she and her friends have done several times before). I will NOT loan anything since that will implicate me in this fiasco.

Still watching for police. I'm giddy.

Ana...do tell. I'm all ears!

Oh my gosh....

Well, the original 3 people stayed till 8:30, went out (probably to eat) and came back just before 10pm. Car pulled in the yard and gate was closed. Lights were on in the living room until at least 3am. Cars stayed until 5:30am and were gone at 7:30am according to my partner in crime who has a better view of the place.

As far as we can tell, nobody is there now. At least we see no cars. And the fun part is that they turned off the back yard light (which had been on for months). It was totally dark over there all night.

Guessing that they are there to find that 'hidden' tunnel or passage they think exists under the garage. I'm not so sure it does. Something about a safe (I saw that) and it sits on top of a metal plate, and under that are steps down into some sort of underground something. A bomb shelter? Dunno.

In any case, this is totally illegal, I really think they are looking for 'loot' and will be gone as soon as they find what they want to take.

Gal insists her lawyer told her it's legal to 'squat' there since she has that paper that the old guy signed (and I got a second signature on to be sure it was his), allowing the original 'caretaker' and this gal to be in the house and do whatever they need to get it habitable. She thinks this will protect her against police, etc.

I looked up 'squatter's rights' and found it's legal here in California where it's called 'adverse possession' and states they can live there IF they have paperwork saying they are 'working on the property'. That's exactly what they have. Wow. She did her homework. AND if they assume the taxes for 5 years, without anyone complaining, they could actually OWN the place by law.

Niece of the deceased should be notified, but she doesn't seem to care nor want anyone to bother her. Not my job since I tried when she was here before. She nor any of the family has filed to change the ownership to their name nor filed for probate of the estate. It sits abandoned and full of that hoard of stuff. Someone pays the electric bill since it's still on, but not the trash bill or water bill (shut off). Taxes were paid for this year.

I'll see what the activity is tonight and am hoping one of the other neighbors will call the cops. The gal across the street, that got those two men arrested (after which all the break-ins stopped) would be the best since the police believed her and acted swiftly. Oh, and the squatter gal KNEW the names of the guys who were arrested but pretended not to know them. Nobody else could find out their names. Very curious.

Some people are smart in how they can manipulate the law. And evictions are hard. Amazing!

Ana

Sorta you should write a book!

Soooo I called the guy who used to live with the old man. I call him the 'caretaker'. He's actually a 50 year old, never married, nice guy who lived with the old guy for a few years, but comes from a family that's really really disfunctional. He has a good heart, is totally honest, but is easily scared away and needs 'supervision' and 'advise' in a lot of areas.

He says he knew the gal was moving in, advised her strongly against it, but since he dares not to come near the place for fear of being arrested (it almost happened once due to the 'snake' bully guy) that he can't do much about it. I asked about that 'secret room or tunnel or whatever' and he's says that's an old old rumor from the neighbor kids from probably 40 or more years ago. It doesn't exist. We laughed a ton about the SWAT team possibly attacking or other fun things like me saying I wasn't bailing her out and would tell the cops I don't know her.

He also cleared up the gal's statement to me that the old guy had given his niece (the only one who cared enough to fly out here to try to do something) 17 thousand dollars way back in the beginning of all this to get rid of her. Also not true. He actually gave her 1200 bucks to get a plane ticket home and 'never come back'. Caretaker guy was right there when it happened.

Found out that the gal moving in (and probably stealing whatever she can) says there is a big hole in the living room or bedroom floor. She thinks that thieves were digging for that 'tunnel'. More probably it was rotted out from termites and one of the many Hazmat guys went through it. Weird, but then again, there was that torn off front porch that allowed access under the house and they might have broken through to get in from there after the doors got boarded up..OR...when the final boarding up happened, maybe someone was still inside and had to break out through the floor. Anyone's guess.

So now we sit and wait and watch. I'm positive she and her little band of merry men and women are searching for all the items that will sell at swap meets, etc. They are backing the SUV in to the back steps for easy loading and making a few trips a day out and then back. Fun to watch but can't prove anything, don't want to, would never be able to 'prove' whose stuff they had anyway. The burglars that the police caught red handed, were let go for lack of evidence. No prosecution.

Too bad that this happens. I'd love to see someone really take charge over there, but sadly, it isn't happening. Can hardly wait for tonight to see what new stuff goes on.

Gads, what a mess. It'd be interesting to know where she got the paper saying she had permission to live in the house.

Next we'll be hearing about ghosts in this house. Actually, that would be a welcome addition to the mix... really, really scary ghosts!

Oh Homer, she really doesn't have any legal paperwork saying she can live there. What she has is something with the old guy's signature on it. Unfortunately, it also has MINE. In the throes of all of the drama long ago almost 2 years now, she and the caretaker guy showed up with a manila file folder (covered with car grease and gunk) and it said that the caretaker (who used to live with him) has permission to be in the house or garage or cars, to fix things or box things up to make it pass inspection for social services so that the old guy could come home. SS refused to allow old guy back there until the hoard (a real one) was cleaned. When caretaker showed me the scribbled 'permission' I was very suspicious. So when the old guy came over to see his dog I had him sign it AGAIN in front of me to be sure the signature was really his. It was. So I countersigned under that with the date and affirmed I witnessed it. Didn't want the caretaker guy pulling a fast one and didn't trust his gal pal at all.

Well, a few months later, he and she brought the old guy home for another visit to see the 'progress' of the cleanup and I was there helping get him up and down steps and at that point SHE added her name onto the 'contract'. Old guy initialed it in front of me saying SHE could be there too as long as the caretaker guy approved. After that, old guy never came home and SHE stayed nightly in the house boxing up things. I strongly believe she was also stealing anything that looked like $$$$ in her pocket. He was a 'Master' watch maker/fixer and had credentials to work on Rolex. SHE always mentioned the watches and clocks. She still mentions secret rooms and hidden money. Caretaker guy says not true.

Anyway, things deteriorated, the police were there a ton, she quit doing stuff (no pay, old guy not coming home), break-ins, etc. Now that he's deceased she quoted on last Monday "I'm going to get something for all my work!" and insists her 'lawyer' gave her the go ahead. I'm sure she's just liberating anything that is worth anything and sharing with her friends.

I can't interfere, she would know who 'squealed' nor can my other neighbor who was there when SHE told us she would be living there. We are the only 2 people who really cared about the old guy and his house and things. Caretaker guy lived with him for a few years, was almost like a son, but got scared off by the 'opportunist friend' who called the cops at any hint of caretaker guy being around. No one has the address of the niece who came and tried to sell the place before he died or I'd send an anonymous letter alerting her to someone in the house.

So SHE has been here Monday night till Tuesday morning. Then Tuesday night till Wed morning. Left the house with her friends and hasn't been seen since except for a 15 minute or less appearance yesterday at 4 pm. Have no idea what or why or what's going on now. However, I did tell the caretaker guy about the house now being listed on the tax rolls as 'the Estate of..." when it wasn't before this week. I have been planting info with him knowing it gets to the gal. She might have been scared that someone will appear and 'catch' her. I also told the caretaker that the niece (who lives in S Carolina) might be coming here soon since they have filed 'probate' papers indicated by that 'estate' designation.

Hoping SHE is scared off, only came back for a minute to grab any personal stuff and is gone for good. Time will tell.

And Drac...as for the ghosts. My neighbor and I are actually praying (and told the gal) that the old guy will probably haunt the house. He sure was a disagreeable fellow and I figure he could do that if he wanted. So maybe 'things' have happened? Dunno, I'm laughing actually just thinking about that one.

Watching today all day. If any thing is going to happen, it will be today when nobody is working. Gotta stay home all day and see the fun.

Aha! Thanks to MaG for letting me know how to not stack posts.

Last night, 3 police cars. Fun watching. Not calling anyone else for now and hoping the guy across the street calls the police tonight again. SHE just drove in about an hour ago, with a guy and a DOG! Probably staying the night again. She also went over to the nearest neighbor and had a chat for about 10 minutes. Probably telling lots of lies about why she is there. They are new neighbors, she doesn't know them, nor do I. Would love to have heard what she told them.

So I wrote an email to the Hazmat guy that I got to know very well who cleaned out the spilled Mercury from the house. He knows the gal because SHE spilled it and called Hazmat. She avoided his calls, never showed up except once for Hazmat and they had to constantly reschedule to get in there.

I asked him if he talked to her within the past 2 weeks and let him know that she says HE said it was OK to move in. If he actually said that I'd be amazed. She also told me she went to the police department and they said it was OK. Never knew a police officer who would give approval to commit a crime.

Didn't mean to send the email today to Hazmat, but it got sent by mistake. Darn. I wanted to edit it a bit after thinking overnight. Sigh. Still, it's my last and final effort to alert someone about the stuff going on. I just feel so guilty sitting by, knowing what she's up to. Darn darn. It's like knowing someone is shoplifting and not telling the store.

Now I wait for a reply from Hazmat, while watching the stuff going on tonight. Hope the SWAT team shows up.

I hope they come and do something Sorta. If not, it looks like you have a new neighbor.

Ana

Again, gads, what a mess. I have to wonder with the spill of mercury, if it's even safe to remove anything from the house. Or if these people realize just how poisonous mercury can be. And if the place is as bad as you say, Sorta, how can the Health Department allow anyone to live in such a mess. It really sounds as though in authority have washed their hands of this mess, or don't see it in need of proper attention. Is it going to take an awful event before someone finally steps in and puts the board of education to the seat of understanding?


Edited because I hiccuped while posting.

Ah yes, you have it right, Homer. Everyone around seems to not care about an old guy or an empty house except the crooks. So many police calls there and they do nothing. Last night SHE arrived with that new guy and a dog. I think this is a new boyfriend (the guy not the dog).

Monitored all night and she must be listening to what I say because the light in the living room, which had been on since last Monday and triggered neighbors to call the cops, went off sometime before 3 am. And she and the friend and dog (I hope) are gone now. Neighbor gets up at 4:30 and said they were gone when she got up.

Can hardly wait till she reappears. Always something fun going on and I'm sure she's just looting the place.

Sent the email to the Hazmat guy to see if he really did talk to her last week and 'authorize' her moving in. He's on vacation till Wednesday, so I won't know anything till then. Tick tock, tick tock.

Hazmat responded! Actually the same night I sent the email and he's still on vacation. What a nice guy.

HE did NOT sanction her moving in. She announced it to him and he strongly advised against it for legal and hazardous reasons. He says the house is still not safe to live in and he is working with the old guy's niece (she's resistant) to get in there again and do a total cleanout. I'm hoping he will notify the Niece of what's going on or at least stop by and order her out for 'health reasons'. I think he has the authority. He also sent copies of my email with his response to 2 other Hazmat departments, so this is now a proper notification. I feel better that I've at least done something.

Last night the ante was upped. Gal arrived with her man friend, and another female nobody recognized. After 3 hours, Gal's car drove out (other female driving alone) and was back in 15 minutes. She parked it 'nose in' which they usually don't do. Another car arrived soon after with 2 guys who went inside. At 7 pm ANOTHER truck arrived with 2 more guys. They all left at 9pm except the Gal and her man friend and other female.

So now my suspicions are confirmed. After the other 2 vehicles left, Gal drove her car out, turned it around, BACKED in (usual position) and then 15 minutes later drove out. I can only assume they were 'loading' it with loot again. No other reason to drive out, back in, then leave.

Terrible stuff happening, all we can do is watch, document license plates and descriptions of people and wait.

Maybe it's a blessing in disguise that they are cleaning the place out. Obviously someone needs to empty it so it may as well be them.

Ana

Yep Ana, would be good if they were actually cleaning out the hoard, but they are just 'cleaning out' anything that can be sold for profit. Really not nice, but then nobody really cared about the old guy anyway, including his own family who he distanced himself from long ago.

Things will all work out somehow. I'm just hoping it's with an arrest or two, or Hazmat and the police evicting them, kicking and screaming.

They come at night, leave before dawn and always seem to be loading 'stuff'. It's not trash. Not a bit of trash ever was taken out of the house, or put in the waste cans from the very beginning almost 2 years ago. That's when we all became suspicious of this gal who offered to 'help'. She's helping herself and now several other guys.

It was so calm after the arrests in late December. I guess we all got used to not having to watch the house. Now it's a full time obsession. Can't say it's boring.

I can't believe all this. They are possibly stealing, and possibly contaminated things, and no one with legal authority is stopping it. Burglaries get the attention of law enforcement, but when it's done in the manner you describe, Sorta, no one in law enforcement seems to care. Shoot, if this is going on at night, it may not be to hard for a stake out to catch everyone in the act and put a stop to it.

How much of what is left in the house could possible be worth anything? You would think by now anything of value would be long gone.

Oh loads of stuff is still in there. The gal boxed up all the 'important' stuff long ago before the old guy died. It's all in the garage, deep in a 'mechanic's pit'. She put it there and covered it with all sorts of other non-important junk to protect it. Now she's going through everything methodically and taking what she wants to sell.

Old guy bought stuff at swap meets and yard sales. Collected thousands (yes) of clocks of every type. Some are worth maybe 5 bucks, some hundreds. Lots of antique watches and other watch related stuff. He fixed watches and clock for a living and had a huge (desk sized) tool chest and working area with all the bells and whistles. The tools were like fine surgical instruments, shiny, delicate. Lots of professional cleaning machines and other stuff and that was just ONE of the areas I saw. He also had tons of old books, probably jewelry, guns, lots of vinyl records (some he bought from me) and collectible things. If she sells all that at the swap meet, she might get a tidy profit. There is also furniture in there (antique) that is buried under stuff. Antique dealers would probably pay a pretty penny for that. There is a 1930's stove in the kitchen in great condition. Oh and modern stuff, appliances and gadgets. It's a treasure trove of stuff if you want to brave getting sick from all the 'infectious and hazardous' stuff that Hazmat found.

She's nuts. Pure and simple. AND last night the caretaker guy (who always calls me during Survivor on TV) told me that the gal said, "All the neighbors are OK with me doing this". Huh? I guess we all are just not doing anything about it, except me who contacted Hazmat and he probably (hopefully) will advise the Niece who is handling the estate (not well, but handling).

Oh and also the gal who is the looter, has a guy taking pictures to 'document damages' for her so she won't be blamed for pre-existing things. Stupid. And she says she contacted the Niece several times by phone and now the niece won't answer her calls anymore. I wonder why????

Seems to me it's likely this gal could be looking at a very long vacation at tax payers expense. She'd get three squares a day, never have to worry what she'd do for the day, where she'll sleep, or what she'll ware. And all this could be her's if the right people find out what's going on.

Maybe if someone impressed upon the niece how much MONEY she is losing by allowing the looters to have access to the place. It would be nice to find where some of the stuff is being sold. I wonder if a search on ebay would turn anything up? But considering the intelligence - used loosely - of this individual, I'm sure the local pawn shops would be the dumping ground for most of the items. They all sound too lazy to try to sell it properly.

I agree with both of you Homer and Drac. This gal is bold and brash, but not too bright. I'm thinking she's selling the stuff at the local swap meets (we have a ton around here). She's constantly remarking how much the old guy's clocks are worth. I don't agree since I've seen them, but she seems to think they are worth millions. She didn't appear at all yesterday (first day of local swap meets which go Thursday-Sunday). I expect to see her late tonight to gather up more stuff.

I did some web searching yesterday and think I've found her under 2 different last names which are linked) with restraining orders from bars and restaurants, and numerous evictions, defaults on car loans, etc. I know that she didn't pay her 'tag' fees and the car got towed a few weeks back, but she has it back now after hubby (or ex I dunno) paid the fees. He kicked her out of their rented house and she's been living from here to anywhere since then. Not a stable personality in any case. Misuses prescription pain killers all the time, drinks heavily with that. She's really fun to watch when she's going down down down. Not driving her car now. Everyone else is. Probably lost her license.

Niece is a strange bird. Lives far away, came out here twice, took a few things from the house, and the guy's SUV and that was the last we saw of her. She resists contact from any authority and the only guy who could make her respond was the nice Hazmat guy. She seems to like him better than anyone else. Dunno why she's so hesitant to wrap up this whole thing. Just hire someone to clean out and dump the hoard, sell the house (worth about 300k) and get out of Dodge. Hoping this will happen sooner than later.

In the meantime, it makes for great entertainment.

Yup, gal sounds like a real peach. We have a website in our state where you can look up all the cases and files that are public. It's called missouricasenet.com... wonder if other states have this. It's quite entertaining!

It does sound like the mortar has fallen off of a few of her bricks. But I suspect she's this brazen because she knows no one is going to do anything about her being at the house. She may even believe the papers she has will protect her, until she's confronted by someone who knows better. And the niece may not be getting involved because she is so tired of all the hassle in dealing with that house.

But one thing is clear, that house will continue to be looted until someone steps in and takes charge, brings in the law, and helps settle the estate. And if need be, hires an armed guard to keep unauthorized people out of the house.

"...mortar has fallen off of a few of her bricks." That's a new one for me. Funnnny!

Police don't care anymore. Actually never did. Niece not on the ball or she would have handled this long ago. My suspicions are that the costs of emptying and cleaning up the place, and the Hazmat fees, will eat up most of the profit from the house. Big ordeal for anyone and she's really not happy to handle anything. Hazmat guy is the only one who can talk to her without her hanging up, but she's 'resistant' still so he says. She's now listed as the 'contact person' on the police rolls and on the Estate filing. I strongly suspect the 'estate' owes money to the pricey rest home, and Hazmat and I know they owe money for the lien on the house from the City for not paying the trash bill, also owe on the water bill. Probably just want to not deal with anything.
I wish someone would just bulldoze the entire thing. Empty lot would be great.

No signs of the looter gal or any of her merry band of pirates. Probably at the swap meet. It's been since Wednesday 2 pm that we have seen any activity, and that was a quick in and out trip. Maybe she has all she wants and is gone with the wind.

Been a while since I've visited GB, hard winter, too much ice and snow in my corner of the world for my taste. Seasonal depression along with finally grieving my divorce, all I've been doing pretty much is getting to work and playing games when I get home.

So, with a few hours before the end the day and the start of another work week, decided to check in and am so glad I did. When I saw this post, I thought, o goody another chapter of the SB neighborhood saga.

I've a feeling that there's a lot more that's unknown about those people than anyone realizes. Like everyone else, I don't understand why there hasn't more action by local law enforcement. Seems to me that if you have to call in haz-mat, the authorities should be checking on that place all the time. So something's funky and not just the gal 'cleaning' the place. As for the niece, I don't blame her one bit. My bet is that she's protecting herself from whatever goofiness is part of the family. Hoarding is a mental sickness and then you have the crazy woman who may be a daughter ( if that was clarified earlier, I;ve forgotten). I don't blame her for not wanting to pitch in an get involved. Maybe she rid herself of the family skeleton's long ago and refuses to go back there.

When you mentioned the woman talking about holes being dug in the house to look for the tunnel, and others denying it exists. I remembered when Geraldo Rivera made a big deal out of going into a building in Chicago to discover Al Capone's treasure stash, or whatever was supposed to be there. It was a lot of media hoopla for a lot of nothing. It as filmed live and left Geraldo looking like a total idiot. I wonder how long she'd dig before giving up.

One of these day, I bet one of the news magazines will hear about it, make an issue out of it and the next thing you know, they'll be working on a MTV movie. Of course, that might not be worth it unless they take fictional liberties and include the nonexistant tunnel. If any of this does happen, I bet you'll have a main supporting role, SB, for being the attentive and alert neighbor that you are. Or at least a feature interview - too bad Barbara Walters is retiring. Just in case, tho, do you need a clothes shopping trip, you know, for the cameras...

And the ghosts, butterflybabe... don't forget the ghosts! Yes, I am also thinking a wardrobe update may be needed for Sorta before it's all over!

Ha! I'm laughing so hard at your comments butterflybabe and Draclvr. Yep a new wardrobe for me. Probably an orange jumpsuit provided by the local jail.

Things are just so unbelievable here. After the 'caretaker' guy called me during Survivor TV on Wednesday (he always does that and I hate it) I waited for the 'squatter's' call. It's like playing phone tag or gossip. I get info from the caretaker, I then pose little clever questions and I know he will call HER. So then I wait for her call to accuse me of saying bad things about her. Yup, it always goes like that. This time they waited 3 days for the contact, but I was ready.

She started out with, "He says you told him I am boxing up stuff and taking it out of the house!" Insert nasty voice here. I then answered while laughing very much, "You have to understand that HE always calls me during Survivor, and when he's on his way home from the Casino (after much booze) or when he's at a bar." So then she laughed and said oh, I understand now. I advised her to call me immediately when HE tells HER something that sounds weird. Of course, I did plant a few seeds that she is indeed taking things from the house. I even told her jokingly that I mentioned, 'her merry band of pirates looting the place'. I told the guy that too. I was half kidding but I think I'm right. Too many short trips and overnight night stays and it's all looks very fishy.

She's just a con artist, liar extraordinaire and thinks she is fooling everyone. Well, she isn't fooling me or my other neighbor and partner in crime and we both watch her carefully. She is boxing things, unboxing things and loading her SUV with stuff. She is not moving in, although she insists she is. Her 'photographer' is really her new boyfriend and is supposed to be 'documenting' damages, on advice of her 'lawyer' so it will prove she didn't do them. Duh?

Then there were the 4 other guys in 2 vehicles who she said were her 'lawyer and his nephew' or Uncle and Nephew or..she kept changing the story there. She also drinks heavily and adds pills to that and is usually a bit 'off'. I think she's probably bringing in 'buyers' and then delivering things to them to be sold at the swap meets.

This whole thing is just so messy. In a nutshell: Old guy broke ties with family long ago over a dispute about some guns he gave to his brother to sell for him. Brother kept the guns or the money. Old guy never forgave him and disowned all 6 brothers and sisters and their families. This happened about 40 or more years ago. No contact between them all that time.

Old guy had the 'caretaker' (half his age) living with him for about 2 years. He was the only one allowed to be inside the hoarded house. No one ever knew about the hoarding. Caretaker guy and Old guy were Casino buddies and swap meet buddies. Caretaker guy came over March of 2012 and found Old guy lying on floor, all doors locked, and he had a gun in his hand. He threatened to shoot everyone. Swat team called out, they broke in and got the guy to a hospital. He had been 'down' for 3 days. No food, no water, barely alive.

Caretaker guy got his address book and called the first name on the list, which turned out to be the Snake (the sweep meet pal) who eventually took over everything and managed to scare the Caretaker guy away by calling the police on him, saying he was breaking in and stealing stuff. This never happened, Caretaker guy is the most simple and honest guy you ever could meet, but totally rattled and didn't know what to do when the cops confronted him.

So caretaker guy backed off fearing arrest if he even showed his face and his girlfriend (the one who is now looting the place) hatched a plan to get into the house and 'fix it up' so Social Services would approve the Old guy coming home from the hospital. Sadly, he never did except one day and then he fell again, hit his head and remained in total care till his demise.

BUT girlfriend (now an ex) had worked for about 3 weeks boxing stuff and clearing rooms and she felt that she should be 'compensated' for all her work. No agreement was ever in place to get paid for anything but she was hoping to become his full-time live-in caretaker. She is certified to do that and has worked in that area.

After all the drama and everyone backing off because of constant break-ins, SHE spilled mercury on the floor (he had more than a gallon of it for watchmaking purposes), SHE called Hazmat and they locked the place up and nobody could enter (except neighborhood thieves). I got to know the Hazmat guys and they are the only ones I trust. Police are of no help and really don't care about the Old guy, the house, nothing. It's just 'paperwork' for them and they won't even file reports anymore.

So Hazmat guy finally came and managed to clear the mercury but then the Niece (the only one who would go near the Old guy) flew out here from S Carolina, and went through the house, taking a few things (knick knacks, books) and loaded up the Old guys SUV and drove it away. In the meantime, a realtor started showing the house to loads of people. Well, then Hazmat got involved again because they hadn't finished their sweep of dangerous materials, so they boarded up the house again, tagged it, put caution tape all over, etc. Realtor couldn't get in (Hazmat changed all locks) and realtor stopped showing and house went off market.

Then more break-ins, over and over, I called Hazmat, they came and re-secured the house 3 or 4 times in 2 weeks and then the neighbor across the street and one next door FINALLY called the cops and got a picture of the burglars loading a truck and the police caught them. 2 guys, lived just around the corner, arrested, truck impounded AND get this, NOTHING happened to them. No real evidence that the 'stuff' was the Old guy's, etc. They let them go!

BUT the gal who is now squatting in the house or looting it or both, is the only one who KNEW their names and what happened to them. Yep, go figure. I think she was in on it all and they are friends of hers.

So then Monday the 14th after months of quiet nice nothingness (Old guy died in late Dec) SHE appears again at my door to inform me she was moving in. Since then it's been mostly nights of her backing in and leaving hours later or making a short stop in daylight (also backing in and locking the gate after her). Fishy, suspicious, definitely she's stealing and is illegally in the house. I play dumb, get tons of info from her, advise neighbor's about what she's doing (one of them called police who did nothing but shine lights on the house but they never enter). She wasn't there at the time anyway.

I on the other hand, emailed my favorite Hazmat guy (I felt I had to do something) and he told me she informed him also. He advised strongly NOT to go in there for many reasons, but we shall see if anything 'legal' happens now. It's just so crazy that she has broken in, changed all the locks, brings friends over, takes things, and is in there with no water, no gas, no plumbing (it's totally clogged for years), and hazardous health-wise per the Hazmat guy.

I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Hopefully the Niece will come back out, clear the house and sell it. Then I guess I'll have to go on a whirlwind tour of TV and make that Oscar winning movie. All of you can be in it.

And don't forget about the best-selling book deal!

I'll probably have to write the book on toilet paper from my jail cell and smuggle it out in the laundry where you, Draclvr, will reclaim it and be the 'ghost writer' for me.

TODAY...oh my word! SHE arrived at just after Noon, but not before an older couple was seen looking over the fence and parking in the driveway for awhile. SHE came and made them back out so she could back IN. After unlocking the gate, they entered and SHE shook hands with each of them. Obviously nobody she knows well so I and the neighbor watched for hours and hours.

THEY went into the house and stayed in for 2 1/2 hours before the lady emerged, went to her car, got out 3 LARGE boxes and went back inside. The GAL and her boyfriend kept the gate unlocked but stood right the guarding it until she returned with the boxes and then the RE locked it behind her again. 30 minutes later, the lady emerged with her male companion with NO boxes, but the GAL and boyfriend drove out right behind them, sped off towards the main drag and were followed by the 'box donation' gal.

Obviously the routine now is, bring in BUYERS, let them go through stuff, choose what they want, they bring their own boxes, which are then put into the GAL's car out of sight (being backed in) and then they go somewhere else to exchange what they purchased. It's sooooooo obvious.

Also 2 other cars drove up during this time only to go to the fence and meet the GAL and be sent away. They both came back later after the others had left and GAL gave one car a small duffle and a box which looked like tupperware (big oblong one). She went off but did share a drink with GAL so they must be friends.

Then later, a guy and gal who had been there twice today, drove in, waited a few, went to the fence, found nobody responding, and then jumped over the fence and disappeared. This time I called the GAL and said she asked me to tell her if anyone was there without her being there. She thanked me, said it was only Roy and he was 'putting the counters back on, and putting something (couldn't understand her slurred words) back into the garage. Hummmm.

I'm sure they are also shoppers, but she must trust them. So now, lemme count the 'pirates'. 15 separate people going in and out that I can account for. Must be making a mega fortune from all those shoppers on a dead man's belongings. I'm just flabbergasted at her nerve.

I suppose this 'sale' will continue for awhile....more fun and games.

Why don't you call the cops for a robbery in progress?

Been there Ana, done that, got the T-shirt announcing to the world that I'm the 'Neighborhood Cop'. Actually not my words. Some guy on the street way back, when I actually called the police when I saw men taking stuff and loading it into a 'yard care' truck. Also called them when I saw a van drop off two women who hopped the fence, went into the house and saw lights go on. Had 2 neighbor guys stand guard on either side of the corner property, and when the police got there, the lights went off, I heard scuffling inside and then nothing. Police REFUSED to knock on the door or go in or anything. Didn't even write a report. That was one of the first break-ins. I got a bit insistant and they told me to 'calm down' and that they didn't see anything unusual despite my pleadings and the neighbor's. I gave up on them.

After that, more break-ins, including the one where there was actually STUFF in a pile outside a smashed garage door, and the gals who responded just tossed it back inside, propped up the door and left. Again, no report. All I could get was a phone number and name of one of them.

One day, finally the guy who called ME the neighborhood cop, saw something and called the cops and they arrived and did the same thing to HIM. This guy lives one house over, got about 8 other neighbors to walk around the house and nothing happened when the police came. Ha. Karma. He even took it upon himself to trim a huge pepper tree that was blocking his vision of the house.

This all continued for over a year, with nothing being done by the police UNTIL Hazmat got involved. They responded, did their job, kept in touch with me, let me know what they were doing AND they called the police out for me when I called the 'private cell' of the Hazmat guy each time I saw a break-in.

So after all this new stuff started, I finally emailed the Hazmat guy who was on vacation and let him know what was going on. He knew, and had advised that gal not to do this 'squatter' thing, but she ignored his advice and told everyone that Hazmat knew she was doing this and had no problem with it. He was a bit miffed she lied to me but I don't know if he will intervene. It's been a week now. So I did what I could, and am waiting for Hazmat to hopefully call the cops themselves, or come and kick her out under the guise of 'dangerous conditions' again.

Two neighbors have called the police (one in the daytime, one at night) and neither time did they do anything since nobody was there. They never even went into the yard to knock on the door. Just looked around and left. Same story.

SHE has now contacted several of the closest neighbors with the same "I'm cleaning the house and boxing things up" story. They believe her I guess. They don't know her, she talks a good talk, and nobody wants to get involved, not their business, who cares, don't want the trouble, etc.

And as I mentioned before, when the police actually did catch 2 guys who were obviously taking things and had stuff in their truck, NOTHING happened to the guys because, 'we can't prove that the stuff was from that house'. They just let them go.

It's a mess. Yesterday was a real full tilt sale day. And the two that went over the fence, that I actually called the gal on to see what she would say, ended up staying 3 hours, and after dark, backed their car up to the fence and spent 15 minutes loading stuff into it. Can't tell what or how much since that corner of the house is dark dark and they purposely keep the outdoor floodlight off. Can't see much except activity in and out and stuff loading.

I'm just hoping that soon, someone will actually get a conscience (other than me) and call the cops and insist they do something. The last time I had contact with the police over there they told me, "We can't do anything with the authority of the owner or a designated person". Well, the owner died, the Niece won't do anything so I guess this will just continue until the gal cleans out the house, makes whatever money she can, and sails off into the sunset smiling.

I've decided that if she calls me again, I'm going to bluntly confront her on what the heck she thinks she is doing with all those boxes of things being given to people. She will probably retaliate so it's a scary thought. Her ex is a prison guard, her brother is a felon, I think she also has a criminal record, and she's not scared of anyone or anything. She has no trouble confronting people. She was yelling at the guy who took our pictures that day. I just wanted to know what he was doing, she was giving him the one finger salute, and saying really bad things and threatening him with bodily harm! Scary on both sides. Just no conscience and wants what she wants.

I'm going to try to not watch the doings over there, but the house is in clear view 24/7. No good answers here. I am taking bets on the 'final' outcome of this drama. My prediction is that she cleans out all the 'good' stuff and goes away and the house sits there forever and ever, slowly crumbling into the earth. Or that she gets the goods, goes away and the Niece finally comes out here, finds the house in a mess and hires someone to clear it. Then she will attempt to sell it again, but Hazmat has to recertify it after the cleanout and that will cost her. I'm sure she doesn't want to pay anything.

No easy answers.

There is an easy answer, get in touch with a reporter. Tell that person the whole story, including what the police aren't doing. Perhaps if something gets printed, or is aired, showing how ineffective the local police are, and just about everyone else, perhaps the ball will start rolling.

Interesting idea, Homer. Hummmm. Now all I have to do is disguise myself, so the gal in question won't know it was me. This is a slippery slope. She confides in me and it's all part of her diabolic plan. Actually I think she's really stupid, because I can ask clever questions and she gives me some neat answers which prove that she's lying, stealing, and is probably falsifying documents.

Ah as to the falsifying: yesterday was a BIG day for activity over there. The night before, when the guy and gal were over there after dark (she said it was her nephew, Roy), there was lots of suspicious stuff happening. So the next morning, after I'd seen the 'nephew' loading his car to the hilt with stuff, that same car was back. And also in the yard (friend and I went for a walk) we saw two other guys, I'd never seen, playing around with 2 huge recycling trash cans. Old guy had ONE can not two. Suspicious and the 2 guys looked away and seemed very weird. So I go about my business and then about an hour later remembered I'd been video taping the house (far away, but good enough to see stuff happening).

While I wasn't watching, the little car of the 'nephew' pulled up, driven by a girl who was with him last night, she honked, and then proceeded around the block. When she returned 10 minutes later, she had the 'nephew' and another guy IN the car. He had been IN the yard before that and never came out when she honked. So here's the deal. Honking was the signal to romp through all the empty back yards, across to the other block's street with the recycle can, which turned up missing later when we checked.

Then something was loaded into the trunk of the little car and off they went. 2 seconds later...3 guys from across the street (the now drug/party rooming house) which is not the same as the dreaded apartments, ran across, hopped the fence, tossed stuff over to each other as they hopped back out. Looked like piles of something in boxes or pillow cases or bubble wrap. Theyran back across to what I call the 'compound' and were gone. All dressed in black, all alike, looking like ninjas. I kid you not.

Well, when I saw that, I tried to call the gal who is squatting to see if she knew what was happening with the nephew, et. al. Her number was 'temporarily disconnected'. Geez. So I got the ex boyfriend/caretaker guy who is trying not to be involved but is in it somehow. He got her. She called me and said she forgot to pay her phone bill. Works now.

So I explained all the actions, she came over (I found out she now lives in a motel with her new boyfriend), and found everything broken in to, piles of STUFF ready to be taken all over the yard and house, and that one recycle can that I'd seen 2 of, was missing. I told her to check the other can (had a similar thing months ago with cans) and sure enough, it was half full of goodies.

She spent an hour in the 90 degree heat, all by herself, nailing boards across doors, putting all the 'loot' back into the house and garage, going to buy new locks for everything. THEN while she made a 'lock' trip, the nephew's car came BACK! I called her pronto, but the nephew and girl went to the fence, looked around very confused (no goodies there to take) and left in about 3 minutes. Gal missed them by inches.

So I had them on video, gal came in, watched and agreed, that was her nephew and his car and he was supposed to have been over there the night before (at her direction) putting some heavy metal storage cabinets into the garage. I told her again the scenario of 3 hours there, backing car up to the fence, loading the trunk and back seat and going. She didn't really think he would do that, but then the next door neighbor's (who are fairly new) came to her and told her the same story. Uhhuh.

So now, the THIEF is getting robbed. I'm laughing so hard. Can't trust anyone, especially your own family. And I'm not so sure he's actually family. Probably just her cover story again. No honor among thieves. This is so awesome.

She went off to confront the 'nephew' who only lives a few blocks away. Haven't heard back from her yet. If he did take anything, she won't find it at his place. Clever people I'm sure just like her.

AND the older couple with the empty boxes, who also spent about 3 hours there the day before but never came out with full boxes but followed gal away to somewhere probably to exchange loot? I asked who they were and the nutsy gal told me "they are lawyers taking pictures to verify damages so I won't get blamed for them'. Duh? I've heard that story before. Twice to be exact when I asked about the boyfriend and then the guys in another car. She can't keep her story straight. It's really getting to be fun.

I write down what she says, then the 'new' story and compare them. They never match. Liars make up so many things they can't remember who they said what to. I'm loving it.

Waiting for today's fun. Gonna get more and more exciting.

OH and the 'paperwork' she says she has that the police, lawyer, and Hazmat verified as being OK to do what she's doing over there? I had a copy long ago, my signature is on it, I tossed the copy where HER name was added and asked her 3 times now for a copy. She has million excuses why she doesn't have it 'right now' or will get it to me soon, or...Now I'm positive that she has 'amended, changed, falsified' that document somehow so it probably does look like permission to be there. Oh yes. AND her maiden name, is the SAME as the Niece who is in charge of things but doesn't care. Might be a nice little hint there as to how she changed it. Can you see the gal saying she's RELATED to the family??? OH yea.

My guess is that the cops are figuring this is a family squabble deal, which, from what you've said about the guy who owned the house, it became a case of the Hatfields vs McCoys. I bet the cops are waiting for things to run their course. Unless it catches fire, becomes a drug house or prostitution place, they're not going to bother. It's probably considered a neighborhood sore spot with nothing legally horrendous happening just yet, not worth the time or expense of paperwork, etc.

I can understand why you and the neighbors are so angry about the injustice happening there but unless there's a murder or worse; it's just thievery within the family. It might not be totally legitimate, at least she's cleaning out the place. Though I'd have to be desperate to want anything that was in a hoarder's house. Course, if it all ends up at a flea market or two, whose going to know the difference.

What I don't understand is, if she did it on purpose, why the gal spilled the mercury.

I hope for your sake, SB, that looting is all that happens in there. Wouldn't surprise me if she torches the place when she's done and tries to get insurance $, if it's even insured.

I'm glad I live in a quiet neighborhood.

Funny you should mention the 'spilling the mercury on purpose'. I always thought she did that as a ploy to get the other guy to step aside and let her and the boyfriend/caretaker be in charge. Always seemed fishy the story she told about how the spill happened and where it happened. Mercury was spilled, Hazmat confirmed, but I am really thinking she did it purposely. Too many different accounts on what really happened when I talk to her.

She is looting for sure. Except on Friday, Sat, Sun days when the swap meets are in progress. She was here yesterday twice and called me to advise both times. She knows I'm watching. Hottest part of the day, 90 and up in a closed up house (all windows nailed shut) and 3 hours they spent doing 'something'. Then at 9:30, she calls again to say they are coming over to haul away as much of the 'trash' they can. They have about 5 huge cans and overflow of empty boxes and lots of huge garbage bags piled on top.

So at 11:30 pm (she was there 2 hours) my friend and I walk over to check on how much she took away. NOTHING. She just moved the bags to behind the cans. So that satisfies me she was packing up her car with goodies again. Actually, when she dumps trash, she does it in the dark of night and puts it in dumpsters all over town. Not her dumpster, other peoples. Imagine that one.

And butterflybabe, amazing you should mention burning down the place. I have felt for over a week, that she will loot everything she thinks she can sell, then torch the house and say it was burglars, etc. She can be extremely vindictive and I can just see her thinking she will get 'even' with the Niece and the Snake for not paying her what she felt she deserved. Yup, waiting for the flames to start.

And oooops! I accidentally told the 'boyfriend' who I thought was her ex now (caretaker) that she was living in a motel with her new boyfriend~ Oh oh! Caretaker and now ex (I think) was totally caught off guard. Had NO idea she had a new boyfriend and thought that they were still an item. Oh dear! No idea where that slip will lead. He thought it was strange she didn't hit him up for money at the end of the month like she usually does. I said well, she and her new boyfriend are waiting for a 200 check to arrive so they can put the water back on in this house. Caretaker/ex was shocked. Wanted to know if I knew which motel. Thank goodness I didn't. Ohhhhhhh!

It now seems others around you, Sorta, are starting to get into the act. And why not? They see what this gal is getting away with and that law enforcement isn't doing anything about it. It's a sad day when this type of crime takes place and law enforcement turns a blind eye. And it's sad that it's going to take something drastic before they finally step in and do their jobs. All of this makes me wonder whose their next target, since they see what they can get away with.

I'm still working on a way to 'tip' the police or anyone who will actually care. I found a police website that allows you to send an email which they say will remain confidential, giving all the info you know about the crime and the person(s) involved. I am trying to get another neighbor to do that. I am way in too deep with all I know since the gal keeps me informed about everything, albeit tons of lies, but still, I am advised when she comes and goes, who she says is with her, what they are doing etc. It's all a ploy on her part.

If anyone turns her in, she will automatically suspect me, since I have ALL the details and she always points out to her 'friends' that I have security cameras, one of which is pointed at that house (not on purpose, just in my view). She calls me at the first comment from anyone that I might have said something about her activities. Don't enjoy those calls and I have to think fast to come up with something that isn't a lie but gets her off my case.

Still agonizing and hoping my neighbor will do the job for me. I've tried to get the Niece's phone number from the 'caretaker' but he is resistant. I don't blame him. Boyfriend (or now ex), and he's also neck deep because of her. She's a cagey one for sure. The perfect criminal mind. Just clever enough to snow everyone she talks to, bold enough to tell everyone her 'story', and definitely evil enough to retaliate. In fact, the 'caretaker/boyfriend's' mobile home has been robbed twice in the past month and a 3rd time almost. Neighbor's are saying they see a red Jeep type vehicle every time. SHE drives a red jeep. This is just too coincidental. AND caretaker guy asked if MY house had been robbed. Ohhhhh. Interesting. I figure she's busy with the other one, so she will wait to do mine later. Ha. At least she knows about the cameras.

Messy messy messy. She's now been absent all Friday, Saturday, and probably today since those are 3 swap meet biggies around here. I expect her tonight after 5 to load up on more stuff. In the meantime, I'm working on that neighbor to turn her in! If I can get the Niece's phone number, another neighbor said she would gladly call her and tell her what's happening. So I'm working on it.

Dunno when it will stop, but I am anticipating something happening this summer. I will take pictures.

I really can understand your position, Sorta, but unless this gal is stopped this time, she'll continue. And it could be worse next time for both her and her next victim.

So here's how much our local police care about crime. Gal called me noon to say she was dropping off her nephew and his wife to clean up the trash outside (mounds of it) and take it away. 2 hours later, 2 police cars show up and 3 police talk to the guy and gal (who are acting oh so very coooool). I figured, good, finally something will happen. Gal wasn't here, she just dropped them off so no cars there.

Well, guy makes a call, hands the phone to the police, she chats for a second or two and hands it back. They ALL leave smiling.

At that point, I had it! Enough is enough. Caught red handed, doing 'something' on a property not theirs and the police just chat and leave. So I called THEM. I feel better but now am scared the gal will find out I called the police.

Conversation went like this: Hi, your officers were at a house about 1/2 hour ago and talked to a male and female and then left.

Yes, they let us talk to the gal in charge, who is a relative of the owners, and she told us they are just cleaning up the yard for the owners.

I got really angry then. I told them, she is in NO way any relative of anyone associated with that house and she's declared her intentions for 3 weeks now to squat in the house and is looting everything she can. The 2 in the yard are related to her and are trying to turn ON the water which is locked by the water company for non-payment.

Police wanted my name and I politely declined citing that the gal keeps in touch with me and I'm afraid of retaliation.

I told them the 'owner' lives in So. Carolina, the house is being probated and has estate status, and they should have a contact number for her. Gave them her name. Police did NOT have her contact info, so I said the Hazmat guy has it, they confirmed his name and I verified it for them.

Hopefully they will call HIM and he will call HER and this whole thing will get some action.

BUT in the hour since I called them, NO cops have returned to question anyone. Darn them.

I'm sure they intend to do nothing...again. BUT at least I tried. I called, I told them what I knew and what the lies were.

How aggravating Sorta. YOu did your part.

Ana

One word for the police - lazy.

Lazy, ill trained new police. We don't pay them enough and they hire almost anyone with little training. I can see why they don't THINK. I still can't believe they accepted a phone call from who knows who and decided that everything was OK there. Then after I called, didn't do a darn thing to follow up.

Sooo today's news. I think I'm going to have a breakdown if this doesn't get wrapped up soon with an arrest or two. The 3 people who came over 3 weeks ago when all this started and stood on my porch and chatted about 'moving in' and fixing the place are not a threesome anymore since the first week. Bad Gal got mad and sent the best friend and her boyfriend (who I'd met before) away and told me to call her immediately if I saw them over there ever again.

She said they were 'going into things when she wasn't there'. So she had a big fight with her friend and she banned them Well, last Sunday night, Bad Gal called to ask if I'd seen a suitcase outside near the fence? I didn't. She said it belonged to the guy and it was his 'stuff' and he was supposed to pick it up.

My guess is he never did, or didn't know it was there, or it got 'picked up' by a local scavenger. Anyway, GUY comes to my door today with the best story ever. I'm in shock but also even madder at Bad Gal.

HE is homeless. The girlfriend, after the big fight, kicked him out of her house where he had lived for a year. Part of it was because he is now a felon on drug charges. HE told me all this himself as he stood teary eyed on my porch. Seems when they all came and he was visibly excited about moving into the house and said he spent 40 bucks on a lock for the gate, he thought he was going to LIVE there. He PAID the Bad Gal 300 bucks for the privilege. She said it was to fix the broken pipes and get the water turned on, and of course pay for the new locks (after she cut the old ones off).

I KNEW something was off there. He had just gotten out of jail 2 days before this first meeting. He was in jail because he was caught with Meth in his car. The meth belonged to the Bad Gal, who framed him and swore to the police it was HIS. Now usually I go, yeah right, he's innocent, ha. But this time, I am tending to believe him. He admits he shouldn't have had it in his car, but it was indeed Bad Gal's and he was dumb to do it for her.

He spent a month in jail and when he got out, was homeless and all his stuff was in a suitcase that he brought to the house here and was expecting to live there. Bad Gal told him she had arranged it with the 'Owner' and as long as the 'fixed up the place' they could live there free. So he contributed to get things started.

Then, he told me that Bad Gal had been arrested and charged with 'breaking and entering a residence' a few days before they started moving in to this one. I totally didn't believe that. Well, I was wrong. I looked it up. SHE was arrested and charged one week before all this started here. Empty house, she went in, told everyone the same story, was taking and selling stuff. It's all TRUE.

So I asked him if she is taking anything from this house (we know she is) and he said YES. She sold some tools and said she had permission to sell things as long as it was to fix the house. What a lie. HE thought she actually had permission from the owner. I advised him 'the owner is dead'. So the conversation went on about how she has an extensive criminal record, etc. Guess he's known her awhile, but mostly through his ex girlfriend. He says Bad Gal is addicted to Meth and other drugs, not just painkillers. Oh dear. Worse and worse. No wonder she's up and down and weird a lot.

Anyway, he was leaving her to go to talk to the ex boyfriend of Bad Gal (who doesn't really know he's an ex). I said he needed to tell him everything he just told me. Hopefully something will come of this. I verified that the tall gray haired guy was introduced as Bad Gal's boyfriend. Too bad ex doesn't know he's been dumped.

Wish the police would get on the ball here. She's selling all she can get her hands on and when someone crosses her, she shuts them out. She was here 3 hours today, probably gathering more goodies for the Swap Meet.

Something will eventually stop all this. Just have to wait and see. I hope it's a BIG production. I want to take pictures.

What a mess.

Ana

All of this just blows my mind. Aren't the police trained on how to do identifications? Many alert people know if you don't know the person on the other end of a phone conversation, you don't trust what they're telling you. Hello, SCAMS! That policeman is a prime candidate. It still sounds like something major will have to happen before someone stops sitting on their thumbs and gets something done. Hang in there Sorta, don't let all this get to you.

Yes Homer, our police department is a joke. It used to be great and then budget cuts, officers going elsewhere for better jobs, a bit of 'scandal' here and there. Now we have rookies all over. They look like high school kids. I haven't seen an 'adult' policeman or woman in 3 years. They all show up on calls, sometimes 4 or 5 cars (the entire force I think) and then after 5 minutes of doing not much, they all stand around in a circle and laugh and chat and enjoy themselves. Then they all go away. No reports written. I tried to get one when there was an OBVIOUS burglary at the old guy's house. A door had been torn off the garage (back small) and a pile of stuff was outside ready to be taken, which included a lot of antique clocks and a bullhorn, some tools, etc. The police gals just tossed them back inside the open door, and told ME to tell the caretaker guy to put the door back on. I asked for a report and she said it wasn't necessary, but after some prodding, she gave me her name and phone number. Duh?

They don't want to write reports, don't take pictures, don't do fingerprints. It's so not a good police presence around here.

Back in the 80's when my house got burgled when I was at work, an off duty guy stopped, called the local police, got them here, the did fingerprints and pictures and all that BEFORE I got home and even knew about it. They left a note stuck in my door to call them. All was efficient and they got the guy thanks to good police work and no one had to call them to do it.

So now I watch the house today, wait for a call back from the Bad Gal or her ex boyfriend (Mr. I think I'm still her boyfriend, clueless) to respond to that guy from yesterday who has no place to live, no belongings, no money, and although he got himself into all this, I still feel bad for him. I just wonder how a group of people all become friends and then one goes wonky on them, doing drugs, stealing, lying, getting arrested, and STILL they don't turn her in and they remain friends? I'd be running the other way at the first sign of foul play. Thanks Mom and Dad for bringing me up right!

Watching...waiting...hoping...trying to figure out what to do now. Praying that someone will turn her in. Has to be someone who isn't getting 'second hand info'. Hearsay so the judge would rule. Where's Batman, or Captain America, or the Hulk, or Superman, or Iron Man, or Wonder Woman when you need them?

Sorta,

I think it's time you changed your Warning to read - Unofficial neighborhood detective, on the job, 24/7.

I'm so exhausted. Today, the Bad Gal once again called me (left a message as I was out shopping) that she and her nephew and another girl were at the house and that she had bought some big plastic storage bins to pack up things, which then would be put in a secure room away from the one with the hole in the floor. I guess she thinks if she tells me everything she is doing, that I won't suspect her. I am not calling her back as requested.

So a few minutes later, I get a call from the ex (who still claims he doesn't know he's an ex) and he asks if 'anything' is going on over there. He's been by every day and called me just to chat. Our conversations are always the same. I tell him what I see and he says he doesn't know anything about what she's doing and doesn't want to get her angry because she can be really bad when crossed. I did find out from him that the person who had her arrested for forgery, was her OWN disabled (but gainfully employed) brother. She stole and forced his checks. Guess she is still mad at him but he refuses to back down.

So after the call today, I go out to get lunch and drive by the house only to see a huge flat-bed tow truck in the center median. Then I glance to my right (remember I'm driving in traffic) and get a glimpse of Bad Gal and her entourage, AND two tow truck guys approaching an old Ford Pinto which has been there forever. Classic one, bad shape but fixable. Lots of people have been by in the last few months wanting to know if it's for sale. One left a note on its windshield which stayed there.

So I avoided slamming on my brakes because of traffic behind me and decided that it would take them awhile to do whatever they were going to do. I figured she was going to sell the car to the guy with the note or to a wrecking yard. There would be a few bucks for one of the first Pintos.

I tried calling my neighbor directly across from the house, but she didn't recognize my cell phone number and wouldn't answer. Darn darn. It took me 15 minutes to get a sandwich and drive back and when I returned, they were just closing and locking the chain link fence after the 'horse left the barn'. The Pinto was gone and so was the tow truck.

I got mad mad mad. Called the ex boyfriend who had called me not 2 hours before and left a message (he wasn't answering either). "Hi, Bad Gal just had the Pinto towed away. If you had no idea, it's time to put on your big boy pants and do something! If you knew something like this was going to happen, don't bother calling back."

So far, no call back. I'm still a bit leery that he knew she was going to sell it OR worse yet, give it to HIM. He always was lamenting that the old guy promised it to him, and he had worked on it, fixing it up, for years.

So the emotional toll hit. I laid down and fell asleep, in the middle of the day, which for me is unheard of! I've told people, I've notified the police after they failed to do anything about the 'yard clean up fiasco' so it would do no good to call them again.

My decision is to distance myself from all the phone calls, and notifications of what's going on from either the Bad Gal or the ex boyfriend and just not involve myself anymore unless the police request information from me. Then I will gladly tell them all I know. Somehow I just don't see the police wanting my help, nor the Niece wanting any information from me as I already tried to offer assistance last year when she was here.

Nobody cares, nothing good will come of this. Hopefully they police will catch her someday, somehow and figure this all out. It's amazing because in the last two days, the news has had two stories about the police routing squatters, and arresting people in abandoned houses. Of course that is in the City of San Diego, not my little suburb. Wish my area would take lessons from the 'big guys'.

Off to try to stay awake. Emotional drama is getting to me.

YOu need to stay safe Sorta! I do not trust any one of them!

Now there's auto theft thrown into the mix? Wow, that's super brazen. But since the police won't do anything, the mice are having a field day. Perhaps it is time for you to step back, Sorta. Seems you've done all the practical stuff to try and put a stop to all this. Why continue butting your head against the wall. The way this gal is going, I wouldn't be surprised if you wake up one morning and find the house missing.

I am officially unofficially off the 'case'. Any phone calls will be handled with, "I really don't want to be involved in anything that's happening there, thank you". If anyone comes to the door (they frequently do) I will just say thanks, and I'm removing myself from whatever is going on so that when the authorities finally get their act together, I'm not involved in it.

And in further news: Since I can't close my eyes 24/7 since this place is only 200 feet away across the intersection, the Water Company came today, early, and turned on the water. Guess she will soon be actually living there and probably bring in lots of 'renters' to support her grand lifestyle.

I'm soooooo done. But then, if anything really big happens, I'll letcha know. I'm still hoping for police, SWAT, helicopters, FBI or anyone that can get her out of there.

It's got to be hard to watch such brazen crimes being committed. But since it seems the only one who cares about the crimes is you and you have no legal standing in the situation, I think you're right to step back. The brick wall is not going to get any softer! The next time she calls, I would be tempted to tell this woman that since there are obviously multiple crimes being committed, you will no longer be involved in anything and she should not contact you again as you no longer want to take the chance of being charged with aiding and abetting yourself.

That sounds like a good plan Sorta!

Be the philosopher Sorta and butt out because people like her hang themselves. Consider her future, what's she going to be doing 5 years from now? And if she's going to be a neighbor for awhile and living in a house with a hole in the floor. And don't let her weezel herself into your house -don's let her even get on your porch.

And I usually don't give advice because I'm too blunt

I wish you the best as bad neighbors are an albatross

Thanks all for the good advice.

It's such a mess that this thing fell into my lap. I didn't go looking for trouble, but it sure found me. I will indeed cut all ties with Bad Gal and the ex boyfriend. I don't know his involvement, but I suspect he knows things, but is not strong enough to do anything. He has some 'mental' problems, is a nice guy, but can't fend for himself in stressful situations. I've been the 'sounding board' for everyone, but this stops now.

She's on her way to a very bad ending, and I want nothing to do with the complicity of it all.

I am just waiting for the phone to ring so I can tell everyone that I no longer want to be 'informed' about anything having to do with this. I'm sure they will be miffed, distrust me, whatever, but I can't be involved if the authorities will eventually figure this all out.

Good to know there are people with level heads on GB even if the ones around here are dumber than rocks.

Sorta, comparing those people to rocks give rocks a bad name. Rocks at least have the sense to lay where they fall.

Bahhhhaaaaaaa! Thanks Homer, I needed a good laugh right now.

I do whats I can, Sorta.

FINALLY...maybe some good news! Bad Gal came back this morning at 7am. She had her 'nephew' and the other gal who is her sidekick with her. For some reason she was nose in not backed in as usual. All fences locked tight. They fiddled with the water shut off valve and the meter area. I think they finally got water to the house.

Then 2 cars arrived together and parked out front. Each driver got out. One got something boxlike out of his backseat, and the other guy went to the same car and also carried something heavy. Gate was unlocked, they both went in. The second car's, guy left after 5 minutes.

THEN at 11 am! THREE police cars drove up. This time they were three adult male cops. Wheeee. They went to the gate, which was quickly unlocked by Bad Gal. My heart fell as she went towards the house and the police followed. My neighbor and I both figured SHE had called the police to report the 'stolen' car or a burglary so it would cover her in case anyone figured things out.

One half hour later, the guy in the car with the boxy thing, was seen with 3 police, they kept motioning to the house and the guy went in, came out with what looked like a cable TV hook up box and got in his car and left.

THEN a few minutes later, the Bad Gal, her nephew and the other girl got into her car, they drove out with police watching and the POLICE locked the gate!!!! Bad Gal always locks the gate herself.

We can only hope that they finally guessed what was going on and made her leave. Dunno if she will be back as she took nothing out of the house nor did her 'friends'. They just were 'escorted' out.

Now we WATCH all day and night to see if she returns. Oxford Street Ladies Detective Agency back on the job!

Excellent news!

After all this time and boxes... I can't imagine much left in the house that would be worth anything.

It's not impossible that they actually took the time to contact the Hazmat guy and got some kid of official verification of the status of the property. I guarantee before Hazmat went in there, they had all their ducks in a row as to the Estate status etc.

Who knows maybe someone finally realized there have been enough official complaints filed with no action taken by then, and they are now trying to do some CYA for themselves.

Aha! The sequence of events: I wrote an email to the Hazmat on Monday detailing everything I knew and absolving them of the need to call anyone BUT begging for help from some the police would believe.

Today, when the police showed up at 11ish and escorted the guys out, I figured they would be back. They WERE. So at 1 pm the Bad Gal was ringing MY doorbell. I didn't answer. She tried a long time. She got into her car and sat and from down the street, came the other gal. She had been at the neighbor's I think (the ones that got the big story about being a relative so they would leave her alone).

Anyway, that gal got into the vehicle, and they made a U-turn and went back up the side street past the squatted house they had just been kicked out of. THEN not 3 minutes later: the MALE walked down the street, jumped over the back fence and disappeared into behind the house out of view.

I picked up the phone, called the PD dispatch and said they were back, and she asked if it was...and gave ME the Bad Gal's name. Wheeeee. I confirmed and they had 2 police units here in warp time. They parked and just as one of the cars moved from the side street (ala the back yard area) the GUY who had gone in earlier emerged with a load of what looked like electronics in his arms and jumped the fence.

Unfortunately for him, the police SAW him and U-turned and cut him off across the sidewalk. Dunno if he got arrested or let go, but they spent 15 minutes with him. Both cars then left. He could have been lying down in the back seat, I hope.

So the PD dispatch thanked me for my help, and I said I really didn't do much since I didn't make the first call today, and SHE said, OH but you helped since it was the Hazmat guy, who sent an email to the NIECE in South Carolina and SHE called us. Oh answered prayers.

So my email to the Hazmat got him to email HER and she called the PD and had the thieves removed. I also told dispatch about the massive looting AND the car she had towed away. They were very interested. Also told them to check their records since this Bad Gal was arrested on April 9th by their department for the SAME thing. Breaking and entering an empty house. They will check on that.

So it's a full moon, things are wonderful, but not over. I'm sure she will continue to break in and get what she can. I'm just thrilled the Niece, who has a legal right to the place did something and now the police will act on all other reports. Whew!

Chalk another one up for the Oxford Street Ladies Detective Agency. We are on a roll!

I read this and locked my door.

Lol, my doors are always locked

Ditto here! Plus anyone wanting to come in has to go past my dogs. They won't have any of it.

I need a dog that thinks it's a cat.

Locked doors all around for awhile. Still keeping watch in the house across to see if Bad Gal shows up. I'm positive and am taking bets on tonight's activities. She's too dumb to not come back and get more loot.

Oh and the ex boyfriend who isn't sure he's a ex yet, called me back and she responded to his phone call from last night about 'bring that car back!' by saying she sold it to a junkyard for 200 bucks because it was an eyesore and she's fixing up the property and going to paint, etc. Duh? So car theft is an 'improvement'?

So, at least things are back to the "interesting" column instead of the "banging head on brick wall" column!

I feel oh so relieved. Definitely back to interesting and careful watching. Brick walls in a pile. Hope we don't have to rebuild.

I've never dealt with junkyards, but don't they keep records to show what they bought from whom? If this is the case, and they have a record of bad gal selling them a car she has no legal title to, doesn't that go under the heading of grand theft auto? Which I believe carries a harsher penalty than looting?

If I look up stupid in the dictionary, would I find a picture of this gal?

Oh, and by the way, locks on doors are only meant for honest people. Anyone else will find a way in if their desire is in high pitch.

That's the first thing I thought - how could she sell if she doesn't have a title? Even junkyards are supposed to require a title - assuming they are on the up and up. And then define "junkyard." Was it a metal scrapyard which paid her for the metal or was it a recycling yard where they sell the parts to people. If she sold it to ANYONE without a title, it's auto theft.

Good thinking Drac and Homer. I asked the ex (who still doesn't know he's an ex) boyfriend about the car. Actually I accused him of being IN on the theft since he worked on that car a lot for the old guy and was promised it would be his someday.

He got my phone message and called back leaving 3 frantic messages which proved to me he had no idea what she was doing and in the middle of it all, he called HER and left a message, "You bring that car back right now". She finally called him a few days later but it's all too late I fear.

We are the junkyard, junk car capital of the world. All over the place, South and East of here withing 5 miles. I used to scavenge parts for my Nash Metropolitans. Stacks and stacks and acres of cars. They let you just wander, take the parts off yourself, and then cash you out when you leave. Was loads of fun stripping cars.

Anyway, I'm still thinking she didn't junk it, but sold it to the guy from around the block who left a note on it a few months back wanting to buy it. He even stopped by here to ask about it. My friend and I are going to brave the 90 degree heat today and walk the few blocks looking in yards just to see if it's anywhere close.

As for the 'title'. The EX has all that at his house. Remember he was supposed to get the car when the guy died, so he has title, registration and everything. We might never know what happened. Not a currently running car, she probably said she was a RELATIVE again and off it went. Gonna be a money maker for the junkyard. Those old Pinto parts are hard to find.

I'm hoping the police do a follow-up on my notification about the car, but probably will have to wait until the Niece gets out here and files charges against the Bad Gal for whatever. Don't know what will happen, just that something will probably soon.

Niece is a teacher and her schools get out on June 9. I'm going to be on alert after that for lots of activity.

Still no 'sightings' over there. Recorded all night again. Just have to watch them. Fun job.

Are people that crazy to try and sell a car without first having the title? If the car wan't scrapped, but restored, the person with the car will need the title to license it and get insurance. I still see orange jumpsuits in someones future.

I'm really hoping for some jail time for the prime offender Bad Gal. Have no idea how that car got sold except maybe she used her 'proof' as a relative. OR the pink slip might have been in the house and she found it and forged it. Anyone's guess. She's pretty clever for a stupid person.

Get this, yesterday, the guy who was supposed to be living there (she took rent money from him) came back. He was still trying to get his 'stuff' out of the house. This time he had his girlfriend with him in the van. They are back together after the big fight but not living together. My guess is all of this crew is homeless, living from house to house with friends, or in the van. What a mess. None of them are upstanding citizens. All have drug problems and police records of some type. But still, they are interesting to chat with and get info. I didn't ask for the contact, just got into all this because of Bad Gal's need to tell me everything she was doing.

Also found out who the male was who jumped over the fence after the 'eviction'. He is another of Bad Gal's 'friends' and he goes by the name of "Grizzly". Gang moniker. Remember, Bad Gal is an ex gang member, brother still is, etc.

Anyway, the best info is: THEY have a signed RENT receipt from Bad Gal. Oh yes. And when they got kicked out and grabbed that paperwork, somehow accidentally, some other papers got mixed in. THEY HAVE a SALES receipt that Bad Gal made when she sold something from the house! This is great proof. AND they have a copy of the 'paper' she is using to convince people she's a relative and has a right to be there. Well, I showed them MY copy and asked if it looked like this? They said it was sort of like that but all in BLUE INK and a little different wording. This is interesting because I have a xeroxed copy of the ORIGINAL with my blue ink signature at the bottom. All the rest is xerox. The true original is in pencil, on a manilla file folder which was stained with car oil. That one is probably long gone, but the one that I made when things were on the up and up, is a xerox with my ink signature. Yup, very easy to see, and nobody, but me has the 'ink' one. If 'her' copy has anything except pencil or xerox, it's a forgery.

So they said they will drop back by with those documents so I can copy them. It will be very telling to see how she ALTERED the 'permission' paper to make it look like she was legally there! I'm on pins and needles waiting. Probably be another week before they reappear, but it's gonna be good.

AND the 'fight' when she kicked them out, wasn't just verbal. They both have fingernail scratches and healing scars on their faces. They said she went nuts and just attacked them over something. Not what she told me, but another reason. I didn't get the true reason, but I'll get it next time they reappear. Wow!

POLICE! Twice yesterday. They appeared with 3 cars and swarmed over the yard of the old guy's house. They obviously were looking for someone in the yard or in the house. Bad Gal not around since the kick out. They never go into the house or even knock on the doors. They just look around. So they all left, then 1 hour later...tada...ONE car back with light bar flashing pulls directly into the driveway. He got out, went over the fence, looked all over, looked in the metal sheds in the back yard AND spoke for a long time to a neighbor across the street (the guy who won't talk to me since almost 2 years now for whatever he 'thinks' I did to him). Anyway, they gestured to the yard. I think someone was seen in the yard, probably more than once. All this after Wednesday's 'eviction' of Bad Gal and Company.

So that all calmed down until 7pm when I get a phone call from, guess who? You win! Yes, it was Bad Gal. I accidentally picked up the phone without checking because I thought it was my neighbor calling me back. Oooops! So we chat, happy happy. She's obviously drunk and on something else. Slurred speech, talking nonsense, but making some sense here and there.

She went over how I didn't answer the door the day she got kicked out and a few other interesting events from that day. She explained it all in 'her terms'. She thinks she has a right to be in the 'abandoned house' because the dead guy owes her money for all the works she's done in there for 2 years. She said since he died without a will the house belonged to anyone who took possession of it? She also thinks the Niece, who is obviously the executor or trustee now of the Estate, lives in a different state than she actually does. Hummm how could that happen if she's so got permission from her?

She wanted ME to write a letter to the POLICE telling them how much she's done for the place and how she's owed money for all of it. She BELIEVES she is legally in the house and will have to be legally evicted by the owner and given 'notice' like all other tenants. She said the police 'asked' her to leave because she was trespassing. She resisted because she says she's 'renting' the place. She was upset that they didn't listen to her but just escorted her out. Poor girl.

I asked about her 'paperwork' and if she showed it to the police. She said she did and they said since it was 2 years old, she would have to, (get this one), "take it to the courthouse and have a judge stamp it that it was good, then bring it to the police station and they would let her live there." Direct quote, not kidding. I'm having a hard time figuring how that one would be accomplished. In any case, she's out and says she's not going to risk getting arrested till she figures out how to get back in.

AND oh, joy, oh joy! In her drug induced haze I asked her a question, "What happened to the Ford Pinto?" Of course she had it towed last Monday, and her 'boyfriend' was told she sold it to a junkyard for 200 bucks, BUT she came up with this neat answer for me:

"I got rid of it to satisfy the lien on the water and the trash". I said, "You can't do that, how does that work?" She quickly answered, "Oh, it's in STORAGE, and I'm going to bring it BACK". Now which story is true? It's at the junkyard, it's been used somehow to pay liens on the utilities, OR she just has it in storage and will bring it back? I'm laughing. I'm hoping she really sold it to someone and is desperately trying to buy it back right now.

I spent quite a while explaining what a 'tenant' is when you are in someone else's house. Explained it several ways, but nothing stuck as far as I can tell. She says her THREE lawyers and the police department and Hazmat guy all said her paper was legal proof for her to live there. Then she launched into all the 'improvements' she had planned for the house, including reinstating the trash service AND that she had already 'established residence' by changing her ADDRESS to that house. This should be fun for the mailman who has a HOLD on all mail there. Gonna be interesting to watch.

So here we are, Sunday morning, calm and happy, and Bad Gal, trying to come up with more tangled webs to weave. Stay tuned for more exciting developments as they happen.

Sorta,

Wouldn't it be easier to just station a car at your house?

Funny you should say that Space. I was just thinking about offering to let a car park in front just to be 'visible' 24/7. Maybe I could get my own and paint it like the local police and make everyone think someone is watching. This whole mess is so awful. Interesting, but awful. Crazy gal, probably drug induced or she's always been this way. Brother a felon, hubby ex prison guard now on disability, friends all very strange. What a great crew. Wish that they never gravitated to MY neighborhood. I lived here 36 years right across the corner from the old guy who died. Saw him every day out in the yard. He came to my yard sales. He 'adopted' a stray dog I found. Not a friendly man, but sure not deserving of all this drama after he's gone. I still think he is haunting the place. Yup.

I'm still thinking about the music box in my bedroom cabinet that started playing all by itself as I got out of the shower the very day the cops evicted Bad Gal. So eerie. It could never have played like that since the top of the 'powder box' had to be pried off AND the winder trigger peg was stuck down. Had to pull it up to make it play, and hit the box several times to get it stared. Still get chills about that one. Ick.

That is pretty eerie Sorta.

Sorta, I didn't know it snowed in your part of California. Perhaps this gal doesn't know either. When it all really hits the fan, it'd be nice to be a fly on the wall when she tries her snow job on those who know the facts.

Funny Homer, actually a week and a half ago we DID have snow in the mountains just 45 minutes to the East. Rare weather around here, BUT the real 'snow' is that Bad Gal.

Last night! OMG! I don't know whether I invoked the old guy's ghost, and maybe one of a roomer he used to have who died in the garage 'apartment'. I keep telling all parties that he is haunting the house. Things are getting very weird.

After the music box incident, I kept telling myself that the old guy did it because of all the stuff happening to HIS house and belongings (he was fiercely Mine Mine Mine). So last night, for the first time in the 36 years I've lived here, a LIGHT was on in the driveway that we never knew existed. BRIGHT, glowing, all night. Walked out to see what it was, and found: A bare huge bulb, up under the eaves, screwed into what looked like a very old black cord that seemed to be coming directly OUT of the wood there above a window. Never noticed it ever.

So it's bright, lighting up the driveway and the sidewalk and there is supposed to be nobody there, etc. Someone would have had to either put in a bulb where a socket was, or turn on a switch which had never been on (inside the house). Didn't see anyone come or go, no reason to suddenly light up the world, except for all the evicting, and police presence, and neighbors watching now.

Neighbor across turned on HIS security lights all night too. I think the neighborhood is getting the big picture here, finally! He had never left his bright spotlights on all night. They cover his driveway and side yard which look into the old guy's back yard.

Now I'm wondering WHO turned on that light???? Who would know it was there, or where the switch was? Was someone in the house and didn't notice the light got accidentally turned on? Could be the Bad Gal has been in there hiding and flipped a switch, but she would surely have seen it was on, even from inside (that bright).

Then this morning, darn it, I looked out just in time to see one of the 'frequent' cars pulling out from the front. I think they just stopped and looked, didn't see anyone get in or out, but I missed the arrival so maybe someone is in there now. Will have to check the screen door and see if it's got the chain and lock on it.

This is so creepy. Lights don't go on by themselves after 36 years do they?

Now the question seems to be, "who ya gonna call?"

I just KNEW ghosts would be involved sooner or later!

Antagonish by Hughes Mearns 1899


Yesterday upon the stair
I met a man who wasn’t there
He wasn’t there again today
I wish, I wish he’d go away

When I came home last night at three
The man was waiting there for me
But when I looked around the hall
I couldn’t see him there at all!

Go away, go away, don’t you come back any more!
Go away, go away, and please don’t slam the door

Last night I saw upon the stair
A little man who wasn’t there
He wasn’t there again today
Oh, how I wish he’d go away

One of my favorite poems. Now is there really a ghost in the neighborhood? Is it the old guy haunting the house to scare away the looters? Can I 'summon' him when I need him? I think I'm going to the dark side.

What about calling Nancy Drew? After all, she has solved several hauntings in her career. Oh, wait a minute, bad idea, she's in the fiction aisle. Ghostbusters weren't real either.

Hmmm. I know that Alison DuBois is a real person - the series Medium was based on her life/career. Here's her website.
http://www.allisondubois.com
Seriously, Sorta, maybe she can help you know what to do. Maybe the old guy's spirit is telling you he's watching? It would be nice if he could do it without giving you a heart attack! May sound silly, but, talk to him, out loud. Might help you keep your sanity.

I've looked the website over a bit and see a few places where you might plug in for some help, maybe without having to pay.

Interesting idea butterflybabe. I think I'll peruse the website. Ghosts don't scare me, I'm just 'tuned' into things that go bump in the night and strange happenings and other eerie things. Fascinating. Too many tales in my life to list but some weird stuff was verified by friends or family who were there when they happened. I'm still looking for a 'tie in' between him and that music box and it's song. Gotta be something there as the police swooped in 3 hours later and put her out. I'm just hoping the old guy is somehow staying around to let it be known he's upset and that will keep Bad Gal from trying to get back in and selling off his stuff.

I need more popcorn.

Oh but wait, there's MORE!

Last night NO light. Couldn't believe my eyes (as if that's unusual?). Went out, walked down the street, probably were watched by every neighbor around, but I don't care. Had to actually cross the street because it was so dark there where before it was brilliant. NO light. Not only no light, I mean NO LIGHT. The darned bulb was GONE. Couldn't tell if it was removed or broken.

This morning, again walked over this time with a camera. Yep, I'm sure the police will be at my house asking what the heck I'm doing. Anyway, the light bulb was in pieces on the ground. Someone broke it during daylight hours. Probably a passerby, but could be one of the 'pirates'. Either hit it with a rock or a board. Trying to look and remember what boards were around that might have been used to reach up there. What a turn of events.

AND the 'caretaker' 'ex boyfriend' finally returned my call from 9am. He usually calls smack dab in the middle of Survivor, or Amazing Race, or any other really good show, but last night, he waited, till 11:45 PM! Woke me up with a start. Pulled a muscle in my back getting to the phone. Geez! Once again, he was calling from a bar. He frequents bars and casinos. Interesting life. He was only slightly drunk, making sense, and told me the light was only on once that he remembers. It has to be switched on inside the house in the kitchen. Someone would have had to go IN the house to do that. He said wasn't him.

The mystery continues. I still think it was the old guy's ghost.

I'm with Homer... popcorn, a cooler of cold beer and some lawn chairs. I'm ready!

Come on over. I've got a nice porch swing hanging on my real old fashioned 'victorian style' porch and another bench on the other side. Lots of shady trees with rustling leaves AND the best seat in the house to watch the action at the 'haunted house'. I'll make some fresh peach iced tea and bake up some chewy oatmeal cookies. Come one, come all to the best show on my street! Admission is FREE.

So without a bulb at the house how are they going to commit their midnight raids? Haven't any of them figured out it's going to look a lot more suspicious if a lone light is seen walking to and from the house? Oh, wait, we aren't talking about a brain trust, are we?

Found out last night that the long-time friend of Bad Gal who moved in with her when all this started and then was kicked out in a physical altercation, also has an arrest record for drugs. AND when looking up her name (the ex finally remembered her last name) found she has a WARRANT out for her arrest on a failure to appear charge for driving with a suspended license. It was issued in February so they aren't really looking for her very hard. I think that suspension is for the drugs in the car, and that's when her car was 'impounded' and she never got it back. So then she drove without a license and now is a 'wanted' woman. Ha. Nice group of people.

Still awesomely quiet over there. I'm enjoying the non-activity while I can.

I'm cornfused, Sorta. If you found out she has an outstanding warrant against her, how come the police missed this little bit of information? Isn't there something called "wants & warrants" used by law enforcement? And here she is, all tied up and ready for delivery.

A lot of times warrants for something like driving while suspended don't get served until the individual is picked up for something else.

Drac has the answer. The gal with the warrant hasn't been back to the house since day 4 when Bad Gal kicked her out (probably over some drug dispute). She lost her car awhile back, now I think I know why. Licenses aren't suspended just for fun. So now she's probably not driving anything, anywhere. And as Drac said, unless they see her driving or they arrest her for some other infraction, they won't bother her. Our police don't have the energy to go around serving warrants, although once a year, they get up a task force and do just that. Arrest everyone in pre-dawn raids that have warrants. First you have to find them.

Nothing happening at the house. It's so calm I'm getting bored.

You know, Sorta, I was just wondering what you're going to do for entertainment when this situation finally reaches a conclusion. Maybe then you can start working on the book version; do a little embellishing, what you'd really like to have seen happen. You could also add in a chapter about how all your GB friends came out to help you with a 'get rid of this mess' march around the property. Do more with the poltergeist aspect. Later, when you become a best selling millionaire, we can all say, 'Yes, we knew her back in the day when she had no limos and only one home. Just don't forget to invite us also for a party to celebrate' just please have more than popcorn, beer and ice tea available.

And it's all because you were living in the right place and the right time.

I can't wait to write the book and do the movie. You will all have a part. We can play ourselves and have a key actor for the old guy and others. All of you will get royalties.

Is there a lawyer in the house?? Better get that royalties promise in writing fast!

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.

I'm being very very careful. We ALL know everyone is lying to some degree. Keep your enemies close. Works.

Walked over last night and sure enough, light on very visibly in the garage. Not going to do anything at this point unless I actually SEE someone there. Not positive who is conning who. I know I'm OK, but all the rest of the players are in it up to their eyeballs. What a fun mess.

...oh drat, I just ran out of popcorn.

Since may not listen to your advice, Sorta. She's never been taken away in handcuffs while at this house, so she might think what you're telling her is all smoke. If so, this is when she'll get caught.

Wow, Reading this was an interesting start of my day!

Now you have talked about book and a blockbuster Movie,
but the first thing I though of was of course a game!
I mean the crime-mystery-story-stuff is great,
and perhaps the gameplay should be a HOG?
Lot's of stuff right!

Usually when you observe something, and make up some fantastic story
around it, it's never like that is it? When I was a kid I was great at that,
perhaps we all were. But this time it just gets better and better!
Well "better" is of course a relative Word, but you know what I mean.

The details, the paperworks, it's almost too exciting this.

RebKean, you're right there. Exciting material straight from real life!

Welcome to my neighborhood Rebkean. Glad you found it. And to answer question that is in the back of your mind, None of this is made up, it's all TRUE. Makes for some interesting detective work around here. My older (I won't say elderly) neighbor and I keep track of almost everything that happens. She has a better view (huge picture window) but I have the security camera footage. Loads of fun.

So for an update: Nothing happening much except that the front gate (which nobody ever used and was padlocked forever) is open (padlock still in place but gate is bent way from the 'catch', is moving position every night. Someone or something is going in and out on a regular basis. Recorded two nights and I see nothing. Might be a daytime incursion? Gotta watch better.

No idea who except Bad Gal says it's her ex friend, Jason. I'm not so sure. Looks maybe like some transients. Nothing is disturbed, no trails of stolen goods. Just those lights on in the garage and the dining room when all were off after the police left last time. And of course the front gate bit.

More news, if something fun happens.

I have to say, I really wish I could be there!
Wish to see all this in reality, my head is full of pictures.
It's like when you read a book, haha.
A bit far to travel though, so you can rest easy.

If you ever get to the West Coast of the US, I'd be glad to let you sit on the porch with all the other GB friends who are living vicariously through me. Popcorn on tap, BYOB.

Good, sounds nice! Big porch then? =)
BYOB, hmmm. Be Your Only Buddy. Bank Your Odd Body. Buy Your Own Bed. Bad Yawn On Bacon.

Bring Your Own Booze!

Aha, thanks.

I can barely contain my glee today. At 8:15 am, (when I'm usually inside) I had to put a bag in the trash at the curb. So I look at the HOUSE and a van pulls up across the driveway, and out come 2 girls (20-30ish). I thought for a second, then marched across the street and confronted them. Never seen them before, but one had already hopped over the driveway fence and was handing garbage bags to the other gal who was tearing them open and then tossing them into the side door of the van.

I interrupted by asking, "WHAT are you doing?". Oh so brave and probably stupid but I was just livid. WHO steals garbage? So they were very nice and upfront and told me that Bad Gal (used HER name) sent them over to dispose of the trash and clean up the yard. I said SHE doesn't live here. They said she does. I informed them that she was a squatter, the police are looking for her and anyone who is in the yard or house. They seemed genuinely shocked.

I asked if they knew the guy who owned the house and they didn't, but were also shocked when I said he was dead. Uhhuh. So I made them put the trash bags back over the fence. I could see bits and pieces of broken clocks and unopened mail and papers, etc. in them. I'm guessing something GOOD is in one or more of the 15 or so bags and 5 trash cans because when I walked up I heard one exclaim, "there's nothing but broken stuff in this one'. Yup. They must have been told that there were good things in the bags. Probably had a deal to split the profits.

Anyway, I got their license number and told them my name and asked for theirs. Amazingly, they told me their first names without hesitation. They said Bad Girl sent them. I said she was living in another town now and they said, "Oh no! We just talked to her a few minutes ago!" Obviously she lied to me again. No surprise.

I told them to go back to her and tell her that I said she is in big trouble, that the police are watching for people and that I said not to come around or send anyone else over. I told them she was trying to get them to do her dirty work and get them involved in stealing things. They seemed concerned that she had put them up to this little ruse.

So after I walked home, I called the police. Enough is enough. Dispatch had one of the regular guys who had been here a lot, call me. Nice. Got his name, chatted for a while and learned a lot. HE is very familiar with Bad Gal and a few others I named. He will run the license plate and try to contact the two girls and see what they know.

AND when I mentioned how weird it was that Bad Gal was the only one who knew the NAMES of the only 2 guys to get arrested over there (months ago) he said, oh yeah, you mean the two that live in the duplex around the corner? I said yup, that one with the classic VW's they always work on. He said he knew those 2 well. Then I told him that Bad Gal often stays there. He was very happy for that information. Had no idea.

AND I found out that Bad Gal showed them her driver's license when they kicked her out last month, and it has the old guy's ADDRESS on it! Yes, she's that clever. Didn't faze the police, they still kicked her out. Con artist extraordinaire.

THEN I called Bad Gal and left a message on her cell phone. I have had it. Told her so, told her never to come over again, etc. SHE called my back an hour later. Said she has no idea who the girls are. Doesn't know them, didn't send them, was out of town at the Casino with her friend and her lawyer? WHO takes their lawyer to the Casino???

Anyway, I told her again, how mad I was, what the girls were doing. I had their license plate and gave it to the police. Bad Gal then said she was already coming over here today with her lawyer and paperwork for the police proving she can live there. I said, "OH good! Stop by my house first, let me meet your lawyer and be sure to bring the papers so I can see them."

Now...did she show up at my house or anywhere in the area? 3 guesses and the first 2 don't count.

Sometimes enough is enough. Just don't turn your back - as you already well know!

Sorta! Please be careful!

We all have our limits, that's for sure. Just keep your head as cool as possible.

And it's funny that she Thinks using the Word "lawyer" will keep everyone quiet,
when in fact she uses it too much and in the wrong places....

No fear here. The police were pretty clear they know her well and they will respond immediately if I call them. They want to catch her doing something as much as I do right now.

Nothing happened overnight except probably some transient grabbed a few little items out of the torn open garbage bag just inside the fence. I know because the old metal clock face was missing and on top, outside the bag was a man's electric razor. Just sitting there when it wasn't there yesterday. Not Bad Gal or her friends because they would have taken that bag and several others. I recorded all night on my security cameras so when I go over them, I might see something. Long task,8 hours each and even at warp speed, it takes about 45 minutes or more.

Her Ex called me finally.She called him the day before. Seems he 'set her up' and she fell for it. A friend of Bad Gal befriended the Ex at the bar. He got suspicious when she kept asking questions that sounded strange regarding all this stuff, so although he's not very bright, he did manage to feed the new friend some mis-information just to see if it would get to Bad Gal. It DID. Mission accomplished. Now he knows not to talk to that girl, since she's a mole. Good for him.

Calm today. Nice so far. No Bad Gal, no lawyer, she's probably 'planning' how to work this one out.

This soap opera is heads and shoulders above any on TV. It sounds like bad gal what's to get into that house, again, so bad she can taste it. And she knows her goose it cooked if she shows up at that house again.

If she can be reached on her cell, it seems it might be possible to spoof her into meeting someone interested in certain things which might be for sale. Or so this guy someone spoke with said. Grubby dude meets her, grubby dude is undercover, grubby dude makes arrest. She is, after all, wanted by the law enforcement folks.

And yet MORE! Friday after I posted, I finally reviewed the security tape from Thursday night. Lo and behold, at 1:30 am on Friday, I saw a group of FOUR adult males come across the street from what I refer to as the 'tow yard'. It's a storage lot where they tow in cars and do body work on them. I'm guessing it's sometimes illegal stuff like grinding off vin numbers. They only work at night. So there are a lot of males there all the time, towing, fixing, drinking, etc. They frequently switch plates on vehicles so they can drive them, then switch the plates back. No dealer plates, just the real ones. Quite a process.

I watched the 4 guys go into the newly forced open front gate, go around the house, go to the garage, and then it started. A convoy of all 4 coming and going back to their area each carrying a box or bag. They did this for 2 solid hours! I calculated the time it took to cross over, get around the house and come back and with the 4 I guess they could have taken out about 400 boxes/bags of things. This would probably empty the garage. Bad Gal put all the 'good stuff' (tools, watch making supplies, good clocks, electronics, etc) in the garage first. And they were nice and neat, picking up anything they dropped immediately, and closing the gate behind them.

So after that 2 hours of fun, I'm assuming the garage is empty since they did not do the same thing last night. I stayed up most of the night watching as did my partner in crime next door neighbor lady. Nobody stirred at all. Amazingly, people were walking by, biking by, driving by, the whole time this convoy of guys were doing their thing. Nobody called the cops. I would have IF I had actually seen it happening but I didn't know until 10 hours later. Phooey.

I called the police after I saw the tape and they gave me the voice mail of the officer I chatted with the day before and I left a message for him. No call back yet. Might never get one.

In any case, the 4 adults have gotten quite a haul and I'm still not sure if they are the one's living in the 'tow yard' or if they just had a vehicle parked in front of it and were loading that to take the things away. ONLY tow yard guys park there, period, so it's gotta be them. Their build matched the guys I always see there. Also, they might have a 'deal' with Bad Gal since she made a point of going over to talk to them (they all sit on the porch) and had quite a friendly chat when she 'moved in' in May. Perhaps she told them where to get things and will split the profits.

I looked her up on the net and found in the last few years she has lived or given 15 different addresses! Each one around town or just outside our little area. Latest address listed is on the street where she burglarized another home just before coming here. It all adds up so nicely.

Probably will be staying up again tonight till the wee hours, watching for activity over there. I'm wondering if I will see anything. Hoping not, since if I do, I will be dialing 911 and reporting a burglary in progress, etc. That will get someone here pronto and they might just catch someone.

These guys didn't bother the trash bags or cans, only looted the garage. Very strange. loving the mystery of it all.

Do you never get scared? This is really an exciting story, exept the
fact that you could actually get hurt. If they're really bad....

I am too old and blonde to be scared. Besides, I was a school teacher for 33 years and nothing happening in this neighborhood can compare the the danger and stupidity of what I handled on a daily basis. Teachers are like police, just without the badge and gun.

Well, good for you! And school is a scary place, our problem over here I would say,
is that teachers have no real authority. The kids can do whatever they want, it seems,
but as an employee in the school you have no rights what so ever.

That's a bit off topic, but I just got a little upset.

Amen, RebKean. I'm glad I'm retired. So much less stress.

I have a facebook-disorder, I want a like-button everywhere, haha.

I'm doing it again. Not of my own doing this time. Got a phone call from the ex boyfriend of Bad Gal. As usual he was parked right outside at the curb and when I realized it, I hung up and walked out. Seems that he drove by the old guy's house and found that someone had torn off the plywood that covered the garage door entrance. Plywood on ground, door wide open, could see inside. HE called the cops, they arrived in about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, they were two new guys who had no idea about anything.

They attempted to go into the garage, but said there were too many boxes piled high and it was unsafe. They couldn't even get to the light switch to turn that off. Whimps. The house door was wide open, but the metal security door had been changed overnight by someone installing a locking doorknob and it was locked, so they couldn't enter the house. Someone might actually be IN the house.

I'm guessing, the 2 males I saw on camera about midnight put on that new doorknob and the single guy who went into the yard at 1:30 am is IN the house. Probably most likely are friends of Bad Gal since they walked down MY street and seemed to know what they wanted to do. Very interesting. She won't quit.

In any case, they got an 'incident number' and gave me their names and badge numbers. At least we tried.

Everything is wide open, or locked with THEIR locks so I expect more activity tonight. Getting very old now with all the stuff going on and nothing being done.

They also suggested contacting the City Code Enforcement department and explaining about the 'nuisance' factor with this house. Might be worth a try. Silly to watch people just loot, change locks, go in and out, etc.

I'll be staying up late tonight and told the ex boyfriend (who actually lived with the old guy for a few years) to park in front of the neighbor's and watch from midnight till 3 and IF he sees anyone go into the yard to call the police immediately. Hope he does what I suggested.

OK, where to start. Up early, fed all cats and then reviewed my security tapes of the old guy's house. THREE am, 2 police cars, 4 cops going around house with flashlights for 1/2 hour. Did a good look see. They left and then in broad daylight at 6 am, 2 people came walking down my street, male and female adults, HE tried to force open the now back in position front gate, she waited. He had no luck, but jumped over it and went to the back of the house, looked quickly and came back and lifted the female over the gate and they both walked CASUALLY around the back of the house and out of sight.

Tape ended at 7:30 am so by the time I called police it was almost 10 am. Ohhhh. Told dispatch all I had seen and said they might still be in there. Cops arrived in FIVE minutes! Awesome It was the A Team. SIX cars, EIGHT police. All went in the yard, etc and did a search. 1/2 hour later, my neighbor (who had walked to the store) called to tell me that they CAUGHT 2 people and had them in handcuffs. Goody.

I had already made contact when the police arrived but quickly went home since they really didn't want me there. Told them I had it on tape and one guy actually came over and watched it and wanted a copy. I gave him the original, since I had no need of it. He was nice, took my ID and all that and then told me he loved the wall decoration over my stereo area. It's old, 'picture discs' and colored records all overlapping on the corner of a previously boring wall. Nice to look at. Glad he liked it.

So after an hour, they let the 2 go. Not thrilled with that but they probably can't do anything except ticket them for trespass. I'm sure they got their ID's too. I took a few pictures of them leaving and then when I got them loaded on my computer, realized...THE MALE is one of Bad Gal's friends (she said he was her nephew) and the girl was one of the 2 girls who were trying to steal the trash when I stopped them. Uhhuh! The walked up to the street where the 2 guys were arrested months ago, probably to the SAME house where Bad Gal stays sometimes. I'm sure of it.

THIS is all Bad Gal's doing. She's behind all of it. Probably put that doorknob on the security door, sent the team of looters last week, and the trash diggers, and then this couple. HE is probably the one I saw going in alone the last 2 nights before this. Hope the police put it all together since they will have his ID from the time they escorted Bad Gal out of the house after a month of squatting. If they are smart and listened to me, they will find the huge file and do something.

Have a call in for the ex of Bad Gal and hope he will give her info from me about all this. Using him to get to her. Loads of fun. I'm so tired and need to eat.

Sorta, I'd be very afraid to let them know you turned them in and are taping them. I'm afraid I'll be reading about you on the news and not them.

Me too... this individual is VERY persistent and that makes her and her cohorts more than a little scary.

I agree with scary. So far though, these crooks seem more interested in burglary and selling stuff. There is a restraining order against Bad Gal from someone who took her to court. Nothing retaliatory from her except harassing phone calls. She's a low profile, scam artist. It's just amazing to me how persistent she is on getting all the 'goodies' she carefully packed away in that garage. She won't stop until she's gotten everything, even if it means putting all her friends in danger too. They don't care. Seems most of them are like her, not afraid of being arrested because NOTHING happens to them after that. Just endless charges that go nowhere.

Hopefully these guys today will actually investigate the 2 people they 'caught' and see if they have ties to Bad Gal. I'm positive they do since I've seen them both before. Eventually, the Niece will be forced to do something. City will insist or threaten condemnation of the property and take it. Police are mentioning that already. I might see if I can file something with the city code office to hasten the process.

Bad Gal is 53 years old and has a long history of stupid stuff. Her friends are like her, a lot in their 50's, 40's, no youngsters so it's all gone on and on. It's a way of life for them.

I'm keeping my security cameras on record night and day now, so if anyone or any car approaches, it will be on tape. They know I have the cameras. Might help a bit.

Just think this whole thing, although funny at times, has got to stop somewhere, someday.

For me, what makes this crew scary is that they are so utterly stupid. Stupid people sometimes do stupid things. Keep that camera rolling!

More stuff last night. just to reassure those who might have mistaken my 'identification' of the 2 from yesterday, I was never close to them, they never saw me, I was at my house on the porch behind the bushes (great place) and snapped photos on telephoto lens. That's how I knew this was the same guy I took pictures of in June. No danger unless Bad Gal gets angry that someone is interfering with her looting. No one tells the 'perps' who called in so it could be anyone in the neighborhood. Last time I talked to Bad Gal she thought it was the neighbors across from me (the guy who hates me). I told her it could be any of several people around here since a lot of them have called over the past 2 years.

So last night, my friend and I do a 'recon' to see how the house and yard look and see if any lights are on anywhere since, at dark, I saw that the backyard security bright light on the eaves was OUT. Yup. We walked around, found it was indeed out, and that the garage door which the police had closed and boarded (well sort of) was now standing WIDE OPEN again with the light shining into the night. Could see inside clearly.

Then in the house itself, Bad Gal had left the dining room light on when she put the new lock on the gate, but that was the only one. Last night, dining room, kitchen, living room AND the locked bedroom door were all on. The locked bedroom is the one with the hole in the floor allowing access from under the house. Bad Gal blames that hole on everyone but her. Cops said SHE did it herself. So someone got in or WAS in there when the police were there getting the 2 from yesterday out.

My neighbor guy, who called when he saw the 'detainees' at 10 am, called me at 9 pm and I alerted him to the open door, lights in the house etc. He is a night custodian for the middle school 2 blocks from here. He drove home, buzzed by the house and called me verifying all was open and what should he do. Of course I convinced him to call the police and gave him the non-emergency number.

He called, and in 10 minutes we had 2 cars circling the block. The first one went up the other street where the people from yesterday obviously live. Probably just checking to see what was happening there or to 'watch' in case someone ran. The looked around for about 10 minutes and left. Don't know if they closed the open door. Not going over there until I have someone with me since the guy across the street who hates me is HOME today for some reason. He keeps looking over there. Maybe he noticed the police last night and his daughter might have told him about the morning's fun since she saw me and the police at my house, etc.

Unfortunately, my recorder didn't record last night! Darn. Nothing to watch. I'm just happy that now another reputable person has called in and maybe the police can put pressure on the Niece now after all the man hours they are spending doing 'checks' over there. Crossing fingers, waiting for the fat lady to sing.

With all the problems the police have been called on for this house, it would seem to me it'd be to their advantage, in the long run, to set up something to catch anyone removing anything from that property. Or really go after bad gal. Either that or they contact niece and have her remove everything from the house. Even it she sends it to a consignment house.

Get this one. The SAME two people were there this morning at 10am handing huge boxes over the fence and loading them onto a heavy duty dolly. Gal and guy then proceeded up the side street in a bit of a hurry (but hampered by the weight of the load) She had a heavy huge bag of something too. I called cops immediately. Dispatcher sounded annoyed. I was leaving in 1/2 hour but in the meantime, a gal who I had never met who lives 2 doors up that street drove up to me in my driveway and said SHE had also called the police and gave me more info on the 2 people. She and her hubby and a neighbor had DETAINED them last month and when police arrived they didn't arrest them! She is as mad as I am.

Today, I have no idea if they caught them. Broad daylight, walking up the street with a load of stolen stuff and nobody responded until 1/2 hour later (per my security tape). BUT a policeman did come to my door, probably to get the tape I said I had of them loading and carrying away the goods.

I am now waiting for him to return so I can give the tape to him. It's almost 8 hours later. I have no doubt the 'children' will be looting the place again tonight. Probably were in the house the whole time police were spotlighting it last night. They can't break into a locked place so all they can do is look.

Also found out that the ex called the cops at 2:30 am this morning. That makes I think 5 police responses in 12 hours for that house. I wonder when something will actually happen to any of the thieves?????

I can not believe the police continue to do little to nothing to put an end to all the calls they're receiving concerning the looting of this house. If they're getting annoyed, it would be in their interest to put a stake-out on the house to arrest the first person caught removing anything. No ifs ands or buts. And if I were the police chief, I'd seriously look into sending the niece a bill for all the protection.

I think it was suggested once, but I wonder if this escalation isn't worth a little call to the local TV station that does this kind of reporting.

Order today! Actual live footage of criminals getting away with it all with no penalty. Only 19.95 plus shipping. All profits go to the Sorta Blonde's Neighborhood fund for buying new 8 hr VHS tapes (hard to find these days) since I have 'donated' them to the police now. Gotta go thrifting to find more I guess. The 6 hr ones just don't last the night.

Police were supposed to pick up tape #2 last night but I got a call from dispatch that they were really sorry, they were slammed with calls and was it OK to come this morning. Of course it is. So I'm waiting for Officer Friendly (or whoever shows up that seems vaguely alert) to come and get the tape. I will insist he or she come IN and watch it before turning it over. I will explain what they are seeing and make sure they know it's the SAME 2 jerks they HAD and let go the day before. Geez!

Ah but last night the ex boyfriend (used to live there and is in constant touch with me) stopped over, I showed him pics and he IDENTIFIED the two people that were there stealing AND he knows them to be friends and a relative of Bad Gal. She brought them over to his trailer back a few months when this latest stuff started. His trailer got burglarized twice in there. Tools, a guitar, etc. Only Bad Gal would know where to find some of that stuff.

So he knows the 'nephew' to be Eddie (Bad Gal's ex hubby's sister's son). Guess she is telling the truth for once about this. AND he said the nephew is of an ethnic descent that I recognized when I saw him and so is the ex hubby so it all fits nicely.

Gonna be waiting and watching all day. Hope the police show up soon.

AND yes, if this doesn't get anywhere, I am going to go to the gal who contacted me yesterday from 2 houses from the empty one, and she called the cops too, and get her or the entire block to call a TV station "reporter" and tell all. This has to get some attention or it will just be a daily thing. Already is. Annoying they can't do anything but take names. WHO is in charge. Oh wait, the DA should be able to help. Aha. She's a go-getter. I'm going to see if that works. Gotta take back the neighborhood.

Haha, I was just thinking you'll need some more tapes!
Too bad it's real expensive to ship them,
otherewise I could send you some old movies.
With some cool internation subtitles on them! Yay.

lol... I can't believe there is anything left in that house!

Well, I waited all morning and then most of the afternoon for someone from the PD to come pick up that tape of direct evidence of a burglary. Nobody came. Finally needed to get food and went out for a sandwich and decided to stop by the PD and drop off the tape (as they said I could the first time I called).

So I get there, walk into a completely empty room with a woman behind glass and tell her about the tape and she says, "Oh no, we can't take any EVIDENCE of a crime here. You have to go home and wait for someone to pick it up." I almost screamed. It's a POLICE STATION. Where else do you drop off EVIDENCE?????

So I'm back home with my tape, called the non-emergency dispatch number and got PUT ON HOLD. That has never happened. It's almost like a classic joke. It's not a 911, but our local PD direct line. I was on hold for a few minutes and then another message that if this was a first time report of a crime to stay on the line or dial 911 or call back later if it wasn't an emergency. I decided to call back later.

I'm just amazed that our Police Department is 'closed'. Ha. What if it were an emergency? Guess I could dial 911 and then be transferred from the central dispatch to the local one, but what if it was busy again? Don't know what is keeping all the police so busy around here for the last 2 days. Had an accident at our corner with ambulance taking one lady, but not too many sirens all day.

Must be something 'big' going on internally. We have a new police chief. Maybe our guys went out on strike? The Blue Flu? Guess time will tell.

Just call me Sorta Frustrated!

Sorta, I think it's a sign of the times, sadly.

...popcorn, need more popcorn.

... and we also need to make a beer run.

Better stock on on even more beer and popcorn and maybe some chocolate!

FINALLY at 8pm a young officer came to my door to collect the tape (or so I thought). Instead he started a 1/2 hour INTERROGATION of me and my evidence and knowledge of everything about the house.

If I had been in a bad mood, or not quite ready to be grilled, it would have gone differently, but it started out with him wanting to know what was on the tape and why I wanted the police to collect it. Then it went downhill from there. He said he was familiar with the house and that TODAY an older male had been taken away from there by ambulance and was in 'bad shape'. I looked at him and told him bluntly NOBODY was taken away over there, and nothing happened all day. I was home, the neighbor was home, we were watching constantly for 'activity' and absolutely nothing happened. HE insisted it did. Sigh.

I'm pretty sure he looked up the address before coming over, found a report from 2 years ago when indeed, the old guy was taken away in bad shape. Lots of police there that day and lots of stuff happening. He must have misread the date. So we started out in attack mode from him and damage repair mode for me.

He questioned me on everything from times, dates, people, officer's names, reports taken etc. Wanted to know where my first tape was, and WHY the officer took it. I told him he ASKED for it and I gave it to him. Wanted to know why they let the two people go on Tuesday and of course I answered, I had no idea since nobody told me. Wanted to know who lived in the house. Nobody nobody. Went through all the names I'd put as 'witnesses' and 'perps' and started mixing them up telling me that so and so lived there, or so and so lived with so and so. Total mix of wrong people. Totally trying to be a profiler here. I wonder if he's trying to climb the ladder at the PD. I clarified it all and then we started on why the police can't arrest anyone even if they are taking things from the property because they don't know that they don't have right to do it and it might be their stuff!

I was livid. Trying to stay calm but geez! I told him that the people had no right to be there, but I fully understood that the DA would not have a case but at least the neighborhood could be protected against these criminals who seem to do what they want in broad daylight. He asked me WHO was the owner of the house who is of course deceased and I said so, but I also told him the Niece's name and where she lived. He already knew that of course and tipped his hand when indicated she was hard to deal with can't be contacted. OF COURSE she can be contacted, the phone number is right there in the file! Darn him. He knew what he was asking, just was testing me to see if I knew.

At one point, as he asked who I had talked to, I mentioned the officer I'd been connected with by dispatch and who probably has the entire file. His demeanor totally changed and he seemed impressed when I confirmed that yes, I had actually talked to that officer and gotten some good information back and forth. Aha. He said he would try to contact him this weekend (guess my go to guy only works weekends now). Must be an important guy since this newbie seemed impressed.

Finally, I showed him the pictures of the 2 'robbers' and he admitted knowing the male. Aha! Then he wanted to know how I got the pictures and why there weren't any police shown in them. He obviously thought I just took pictures for the fun of it. Happily, I flipped the page and he recognized 3 of the officers. One was from June, and 2 from this week. He had NO idea they were from months apart. Double ha! I didn't mention it. Better to let him think he knows everything.

Then female officer showed up and he said he and his partner would go over and check out the house. I told him no need, nobody has been there all day, the place is locked up tight and even if they saw someone inside, they can't break in to get them. I know the law. He said I had no idea how good he was at getting into places that were secured. Duh???

So they walk over, leaving 2 cop cars in front of my house for all to see, and shine flashlights on the front of the house for 2 seconds and then come back to say they saw nothing amiss. How nice. Then as they were standing there, I asked again, can't anything be done about these 2 people who are obviously looting the place and most likely live a block away. When I mentioned the actual address of their house, THE GIRL admitted, that they KNEW who those 2 were, had their ID's, etc. Are we now playing good cop/bad cop? I was happy she told me something valuable.

As they were walking away, I thanked them for coming and asked could I at least have their names so "The next time someone interrogates me and gives me the third degree, I would at least be able to tell them the names." Yes, that is a direct quote from me to the two of them. I was being honest. Hope they enjoyed the fun.

Male wasn't very happy, but scribbled their names, the incident number and the wrong date (which he corrected by himself). So now I have a little notebook paper with badge numbers too. OH joy. I can tell by the badge numbers, that both of them are newbies. Older police have low numbers, the new ones start at 1000 and up. Learning something every day.

Hopefully nothing happened last night. I'm wondering where this will all go if they won't even arrest or do anything to burglars caught red handed with stuff from an abandoned house. Just appalling. I did say that I will continue to call them when things happen and they can continue to respond and we will all be kept busy getting nowhere. They again recommended contact the city code division. I think they really want us to do that so they won't have to waste time over here knowing they can't do anything much to the crooks. Yup. Strange world we live in when the criminals know they are safe and the good people have no rights.

Where's that CHOCOLATE?

Maybe they were bad guys dressed as cops!
You should get their names BEFORE the "talk".

I almost have to agree with RebKean. Although I know all about rookie cops when we get them here. They tend to act like mall cops.

Look out Sorta, be nice to police -I'm in no mood to bake a chocolate cake with a saw in it. That niece is an odd one, not caring about the house and the contents. Did the guy have other nieces or nephews?

This could evolve to a thriller movie and I want to see your name on the marquee sometime.

just take care

Bad Guys and Mall Cops. Maybe they were both! BUT:

Today, I'm dealing with my yard kid (who disappeared for 2 months) and he goes out the front gate to go over to my neighbor's house to finish the job (from 2 months ago). She's not home but I was left in charge and with the money.

So the kid yells in to me: "The police are out front and they said something about a complaint". I of course, after last night's fiasco took a deep breath, got my heart rate down a few notches and wondered WHO filed a complaint on ME?

Turns out there was a formidable good looking policeman at my gate, and I invited him in. As he passed I noticed his name tag, it was the GOOD GUY I had spoken to on the phone, the one with all the answers, the one who has the FILE on all this! Fantastic!

He came over to get the TAPE that the other guy refused to take. Nice. Seems genuine, and did I mention handsome????

We talked a good while and he again filled me on on things and I told him a load of stuff that he needed to know about me and the neighborhood and the problems with that house. He was sympathetic but of course reminded me that prosecution is only gonna happen if the Niece will cooperate and she is really NOT.

I gave him some names, explained the tape, filled him in on where I think the guys live that are looting the place and mentioned Bad Gal's name and my suspicion she's behind it all. He AGREED! Wow. He also clarified the ADDRESSES of two houses on that street where they have constant calls and drug problems with the residents. Nice to know another house that's bad. Wheeee.

So I thanked him profusely after of course telling him how great last night's guy was with INTERROGATION and Good Cop/Bad Cop. Made it sound like the jerk did a good job. He asked WHY the guy didn't take the tape and I said I had no idea at all. Hummm. I wonder if 'Mall Cop' is in trouble. Hope not, I'd hate to have any bad will with him or any of the police guys.

He will be checking with the officer who took the first tape to see if a report was filed. I guess the right hand doesn't always know what the left hand is doing.

So here it stands, can't arrest anyone unless the Niece will prosecute and she won't at this point. They will act on her orders like kicking people out, but that was accomplished by me contacting Hazmat and Hazmat contacting her and she contacting the PD.

So it's back to watching and calling and HE says eventually the higher ups will get tired of all this manpower being wasted on nothing and they will put pressure on the city to make the Niece do something or just condemn the property as abandoned and bulldoze it.

I LIVE for the day!

How did he look?

Remember Ponch on CHIPS? Imagine this guy more buff, taller, more muscular, more gorgeous smile, deep dimples (actually creases) and little crinkles around his gorgeous eyes. And his hair? All thick black and spiked up just a bit. He is probably 6'2" or more, huge hands (he shook my hand when he left). Dunno if I will wash it anytime soon. A great specimen. Wish I could have taken a picture OR had my security recording running. Darn.

The thing is... at this point, it's all about the safety of the neighborhood! Good grief!

Perhaps it's time to find out which network would be interested in a nice hot story; they may even contact the niece to get her side of the story. Or, see what the law can do to force niece to take responsibility for clearing out the house. Her inaction is endangering the neighborhood, and enabling people to steal. Surely there's a law on the books which cover one or both of these.

The answer I was looking for Sorta, was "good".
But no, I don't remember him. I'm 38 so my
image of perfection is Don Johnson.
Too bad with the camera being off.....

EDIT: Hmmm, do you really say "my image of"? Sounds a bit Swinglish now when I think about it...

Hey RebKean, try looking on YouTube or just search for the TV Program CHIPS. I guessing it was a 70's show. I'll have to look it up myself. All about the California Highway Patrol in a series that was fun to watch.

Today is calm. BUT last night (I didn't record) there was a NEW light on in the house. Clearly shining bright, in the living room area where it had been on forever. The police turned that one off last month, and several more went on inside after the new KNOB appeared on the door (locking people who were not wanting to be found) on the inside safe and sound. So last night, there it was, the same bright light. I'm positive Bad Gal is in there, probably has been for 2 weeks now. I small silver car comes and goes at the house next door every night several times. Just stops, then takes off again. Gotta be her 'taxi'. Tonight I will stand outside and watch that car and see who gets out or in. My gut says Bad Gal just being sneaky, hiding inside, boxing up goodies for her friends to take little by little as the car comes and goes.

Maybe Officer Friendly will come back again. Sigh. So nice.

Didn't record the house last night. Too tired and disheartened by the lack of police support, so what happens? Oh yes, the front gate forced wide open again, and the lattice work door for under house access is either missing or pushed so far in you can't see it. They are at it again. Might be transients this time since the last 2 couldn't force that gate and this time it's opened the same way. Need major muscle and leverage to bend it past the latch without removing the lock.

I'm not calling the police. Too tired to do that. Didn't see anything, have no proof. Maybe someone else will call it in.

Take heart, Sorta, sooner or later things will break and it will no longer be the problem it is. To bad a lawyer can't contact niece and let her know a lawsuit will be filed against her unless this menace is cleaned up. Her lack of interest is, after all, enabling every Tom, Dick, and Harry with sticky fingers.

Ohhhhh Homer! I never thought about a lawsuit. Could be a small claims even and the neighborhood could file it. Thinking thinking. Must be something there. Wow. YOU might have hit the target. I'm going to investigate. Something along the lines of, an uncared for house and yard, broken windows, unsavory transients going in and out, drug activity. Hummmm dunno if small claims would handle that but I'm thinking. Might be some hot shot lawyer would be willing to do it for free in a REAL case. Would have to be against the 'Estate of' but hey, something might come of it all. Now to scout out some legal firms and talk to some neighbors.

Throw in safety, peace of mind, alienation of affection... wait, I'm getting carried away. But, this definitely bears looking into.

Alienation of affection? Now you got me laughing.

So today, Bad Girl, who hasn't been seen or heard from since I yelled at her a few weeks back...CALLED. Was as friendly as she could be. You would thing we are BFF. Gah. Hate when she does that. Went on and on about how it's not her and she is so angry at all those other people and admits knowing them. She also quoted me about poor old guy and how dare they desecrate his memory and all that stuff. She even went so far as to say she keeps a PICTURE of him in her wallet. I think I gagged a little when she said that.

She still insists her lawyer, (who now has a different but similar name) is preparing papers to take to the police to prove Bad Girl can live there. AND she is going to call the Niece and propose that Bad Gal be allowed to move in, finish the packing up of stuff and then mail all the 'family memory stuff' to the Niece (for a fee of course)! Can you say STUPID?

I have no idea where this one is going. She even named all the 'perps that are breaking in and made sure I knew where they lived and who is the guiltiest. Geez. She's up to no good. Wants to divert attention away from her and onto everyone. I suspect SHE was questioned by the cops in the last few days to see what she knows. Makes sense. She had info that I didn't give her or anyone. So weird.

So I have a call into her ex and hope he calls back soon so I can see what he knows. Probably he could have told her a few things. I didn't deny calling the police on the 2 girls or the girl and guy who got detained. She said good for me for doing that for those 'bad' people. Oh joy.

Can't wait to see what happens next.

Almost sounds as though she thinks people just fell off the cabbage truck. If I opened up a dictionary would her picture be under the 'S's'?

Actually Homer, I think her picture would be on the COVER and in and around every little page, since she seems to be instigating everything that's happening there. Can't imagine how bold she is about all of this and how her story keeps changing. As my neighbor said this morning, "If her mouth is moving...she's lying". How true.

Last night LIGHTS all over the house. She's playing games. Trying probably to see how long it takes the cops to arrive after someone notices and calls in. I'm not calling. I waiting for major incident before I get involved again. She's probably got more tricks up her sleeve. Just boggles the mind.

...and because she knows how long it will take before the police arrive, or are even called, she'll continue doing what's she's doing. However...there is going to be a day where she thinks she's got everyone snowed and that no one will do anything to stop her and her world is going to come crashing down. Big time.

My 84 year old neighbor and partner in crime just called with a fantastic idea. Since the police say they can't do anything without the 'person in charge' filing a complaint, and since WE don't have her phone number, she suggested writing an anonymous letter, mailing it to the empty house's address and telling her everything we think she should know and begging for her to do something to help.

Mail has been being forwarded for almost 2 years now, so it just might work. Anything sent there, will go to HER even if we have no idea where she lives. We will address it to 'The Estate Of', and it could be the break we were looking for. Oh what a great thought. Who needs to know an address when you know someone is paying the gas/electric (and probably now the water) bills regularly, not to mention the property taxes. Niece must be getting all that at her house. Yup, something to ponder.

The police can't do anything unless the person in charge files a complaint? So if they do catch whatshername in the act, they can't do a thing to her? Is that actually the written law, or just what you're being told?

Yup, Homer, here's the problem. The police ALL say 'our hands are tied'. I looked up the criminal code for California and indeed, they CAN arrest or at least 'ticket' trespassers. From what I can get from multiple officers (including the one who seems to be the most savvy and has the actual 'file') it's the 'higher ups' who won't allow them to do anything even if they want to.

It's a political situation. Too much trouble to cite and prosecute minor crimes when the 'owner' won't prosecute. They really can't do anything but a load of paperwork and get nowhere. They don't even write REPORTS anymore. Just get an 'incident' number. It's not worth the effort to protect that house or its possessions.

We are pretty much stuck UNLESS they actually find a FELONY in progress like drug manufacture, or someone burns the place down and they catch them in the act. It's hopeless at this point. The good police guys want to help, you can tell it from what they say, but the younger guys, just act like it's a nuisance to them to even respond. Waste of time. Gotta be something in the department that is telling them NOT to do anything with this mess.

I'm so frustrated. Still watching, still recording just in case something really bad happens, but not calling the cops for anything now that I see they won't help. Hopefully someday, someone will get the Niece to do something, anything or turn over her 'authority' to someone local. She probably won't. Disfunctional family from day one with all of them hating the others. Those of us who want to help and just made to feel we are interfering and just don't want to do anything now.

I would love to see Bad Gal or any of her gang hauled off in handcuffs. Dreaming....

And if any good neighbors intervened you'd be the ones to be arrested.

Still say consulting a lawyer to see what the niece could be charged with is a way to go. After all, whose to say one of you folks won't be next. She's at least enabling theft to take place. And if she didn't grant permission for the car to be sold, grand larceny.

Wow! 10 days and nothing much to report. I'm thrilled. Only action at the old house is the back super-bright bedroom light went off 2 days ago after 2 weeks of constant on. Then last night, the living room light was off too. Might just be burning out, or someone is playing around to see if anyone calls the cops about lights going on and off. I will never know. Caretaker guy (the ex boyfriend of our prime suspect) stops by every few days now. He has nothing else to do, but it's just a bit weird that he keeps asking if there is anything happening. I still don't know if I can FULLY trust him. I think I can, but ya never know what the 'love' angle has to do with all this. He might be so smitten by the Bad Gal that he will cover for her. His words say he's not doing anything, but I'm still wondering. Someday, maybe, just maybe, the police will actually arrest and the DA will prosecute one of these bad people. Sending my vibes to the entire law enforcement team to do something, anything, to get all this to stop. Also calling on the 'spirit' of poor old Frank (deceased), who hated anyone messing with his hoarded stuff, to haunt the place. Hope he's doing his job!

Awww, so what do I do with all this popcorn?

Why some producer hasn't made you an offer to make a reality show from your adventures is beyond me.

Hummmmm. I was just assuming everyone's neighborhood was like mine. Nothing to see here folks, move along, go away, nothing happening. Ha.

Actually it's been so calm it's scary. I keep looking at the police stats to see if Bad Gal is in jail. Nothing so far, no warrants, but today's another day. One can only hope. Or even more evil, maybe all these thieves and druggies will turn on each other and solve the problem. BOTH my neighbor and I (our little Oxford Street Ladies Detective Agency) suddenly thought of the same thing at the same time and called each other the next day to say, "There's probably a dead body in there right now.". How macabre is that? Usually when she and I think of things, they happen. I'm just waiting for the entire SWAT and multiple police agencies to swarm the place after someone notices a 'bad smell'. Then I'm going to casually walk over and say, "I tried to tell you someone was in there, but you wouldn't listen." I'll take a picture of their reaction and then calmly walk back to my house. Done and done.

Well, Sorta, when there's more flies around that house than air, you KNOW something ain't right.

Aha! Today in doing my normal 'check' of the police blotter, I found tada...Bad Gal has ANOTHER bench warrant for her arrest with 5k bail. It's for the same charge as last time (drug stuff) and I think it's probably because she bailed her self out on the last one in July and then didn't show up for her court date. Pretty sure. That means she paid 5k 2 months ago, either from friends or a bail bonds and then skipped the court date and NOW will owe someone 5k AND they are going to arrest her again and this time probably not let her out easily. If it's a bail bonds then THEY will be really mad and do everything they can to make sure she keeps the deal.

It makes me smile just to think that the police are looking for her. I will have to check every day now to see if she has been arrested yet. Gives me something to look forward to when I get up each day. Yup. Loving it. Her address is still listed as her ex-hubbys so he will know where to find her. They have kids together (grown and one in jr. hi) so she keeps in touch and sometimes lives there too. Nice. Can hardly wait.

We should have a neighborhood party when she gets caught again. AND there is still a burglary/forgery charge listed from April which I doubt has gone to trial yet. Maybe she is on probation for that if it has been settled. Ahhh the joy of gloating.

The gears move slowly, but they do move. And where the police can't spend all their time searching for one person, the bondsman can.

Imagine how someone can live like that -all that garbage hanging over you. And her children -what are they up to. Maybe they'll better themselves. Sorta, just that you don't see her anymore -be careful.

Yup, being careful when anyone drives up out front or comes to the door. I doubt she will be wandering by anytime soon. She hasn't been to 'see' me since being kicked out of the old guy's house.

Called her ex boyfriend yesterday and let him know she's got the warrant. He doesn't have a computer so I gave him a heads up in case she calls asking for money like she usually does. I mused how in the heck she got 5k the last time to bail herself out and he said she probably put up her Ford Escape (fairly new one) for collateral) at the bail bondsman's. That makes perfect sense now why she would tell me on her last call, "My car is in the shop and my boyfriend got me a rental". Had no idea why she would tell me that tidbit. Now I know. Not in the shop, just collateral and probably now lost for good. Wow.

I keep expecting to see her breaking in to get more stuff to sell to get her bail money. 5k is a LOT and even if she could come up with the 10%, that's still 500 bucks and 'they' would already see she has a history of jumping bail. Oh the joys of watching her self-destruct.

All drug fueled from the beginning I guess. Now shes into heavier stuff and eventually...well, you know the progression. Terrible to think someone with talents and intelligence would choose this path, but I guess drugs get you. I know a few very good people whose kids are into drug use and they are at wit's end trying to help them. No good solution.

Still watching the 'house'. Not seeing any overt activity and am not spending my precious time patrolling or recording anymore since the police don't care. If something drastic happens, I'll be there but for now, I'm taking a vacation.

Well all was quiet until this morning and I was out watering a plant when a white car pulled into my driveway. Didn't recognize it but it turned out to be the lady from up the side street who ALSO has called the police a million times and gotten no help. She's a nice person and is more than willing to do something, anything to get this mess gone.

Turns out, she drove by this morning and saw that the back metal security door was now standing wide open, and the inner house door also open to all. So she called the police, they sent 2 people who walked around the house for a minute or two and then left.

She left my house, drove around again and called me. Back door and inner STILL standing wide open. Police didn't even try to close them. She was livid. So a few minutes later, 2 more police cars showed up. Gal parked on my street, guy on the side street. They met up at the back (parking) gate and chatted for 5 minutes. Then gal goes to house next door (which has a clear view of those doors and gal chatted with someone for 5 more minutes. Then she came back to chat with guy another 5 minutes. Finally...they hopped over the fence, why I will never figure out since the FRONT gate was standing WIDE open and they walked by it earlier. Really stupid. So they disappeared, gal up the street called and said they were going INTO the house with guns drawn. Goody.

5 more minutes and they were both out and over the fence and spent another 5 minutes chatting. I was hoping they were waiting for 'back-up' but nope, as usual, they just spent time socializing and no report was taken, nothing, no contact with the 'reporting' party. So deja-vu.

I called the gal and she said yup, she had called the police back and yelled that they didn't even close the door earlier and dispatch told her thanks, and she was sending someone to double check.

When I went out to shop, they HAD closed the doors. Nice. So now we wait again to see what happens tonight. I really think it's Bad Gal or her friends trying to come up with her bail money for that warrant. She will eventually get caught for that and it's another 5k she needs. Makes sense. Steal more stuff, sell more stuff, come up with 500 bucks for the bail bondsman and hock another car? Or who knows. Maybe just selling more drugs to get the money. She's resourceful.

The side street gal is WILLING to keep calling, and might even call the TV station! I'm encouraging her to do that. Someone has to. I told her however she wants to accomplish some good outcome, I will support her. I think she's going to 'maybe sorta, kinda smell an odor of gas coming from the house on Monday'. Uhhuh. My lips are sealed. It's possible. Ya never know what those thieves might have disturbed in there.

Can hardly wait for the 'next' incident.

Oh, good grief. At least someone else cares about the neighborhood.

I'm hoping she will do something. She's the one, along with her husband and a neighbor man, who actually CAUGHT and detained those same two people I called the police for a month or two later. The police refused to arrest them or let them do a citizen's arrest. The family was really miffed. So she has been watching the best she can and calling in frequently. I advised her to keep calling, since she felt like I did, unappreciated and a nuisance. Today, she called twice. Good for her. I'm really hoping her tenacity will get something done and along with the rest of the neighborhood, this might just get handled some day. If that happens, I will have to find a new 'hobby'.

What do they say about the squeaky wheel???

By doing nothing, the niece is enabling this situation so she could be held culpable should a lawsuit be filed. Since law enforcement won't do anything, perhaps it's time to go different routes; TV, lawyer, etc.

Neighbor (part of my detective agency) called me at 6:30 am very apologetic. I was already awake, watching news in bed, but not dressed. Two police cars at the empty house WITH a young man sitting on the curb being questioned. They made him turn his pockets out, take off his shoes etc. One cop went through the front gate (which is constantly open every morning now and seems to close itself about an hour later) and he walked around the house.

They 'detained' the young guy for about 1/2 hour just sitting and talking. Then finally let him go. He walked up the block. He tossed something, maybe a piece of paper, over the fence towards the trash cans as he left. Probably they told him to, but not sure as he had to actually detour from the sidewalk about 10 feet to do it. So at least the police ARE watching that house now.

I saw two cars last night too, just kinda circling slowly every so often. Might have something to do with my report on the 'fix it' site about that pick up truck and trailer out front for 2 months now. Some guy parks it and walks off after disabling something under the hood. I think he lives on the next street behind mine and can see that parking spot from his 2 story condo. Makes sense. He moved it once for 2 days and then right back to the 'favorite' spot. It's illegal for more than 3 days but nobody cares or knows the law. I just hate it when people take advantage and nobody complains. The 'fix it' site is anonymous if you want and they actually check out the reports and do something. Easier than calling in.

Someday they will actually arrest someone there I HOPE! At least this is a good day.

It probably was just some neighborhood guy walking (we have a load of walkers) and saw all the trash cans overflowing with stuff and was looking in them. Very attractive nuisance. Wish someone would just get those out of there. 5 full cans with 'things' visible that Bad Gal threw out. Broken clocks, paperwork from the 'life' of poor old guy. Lots of unopened mail, etc. Who knows what the guy was trying to find.

Going to watch today to see if they tag that 'abandoned' truck. Hope they locate the owner or just tow the stupid thing. It really blocks my view of the house and I can't see if anyone is jumping the fence. I think one cop re-set the front gate and it's closed again. It won't last long.

My fellow detective lady and I will be walking over later to inspect the 'scene'. I'll take a pic of the trash as it appears now and see if the back door is open again. Someday, there will be someone to prosecute and I will have the pictures and FILE to tell the court everything they need to know.

Been too busy to update but:

After the police left Wednesday, and let the kiddo go, I walked over and saw the state of the house and yard. Trash cans tossed out, 2 of them missing totally with lots of 'stuff' all over the driveway area. Radios, toaster, packages of unopened clock faces and humidity gauges, etc. Also a slew of little paper packets that contain(ed) watch parts. Guess the kid was sorting through a lot of stuff. There was also a fresh bottle of water, and a huge Big Gulp sitting there. Either the 'thieves' took the cans full of goodies, or they are in the house now being loaded.

Sooooo a few hours later, I see a man and woman walk over the to fence, look and chat and so I decided to walk over to see if they were neighbors and could fill them in on stuff, or they fill me in. Turns out, as I walked over, there was a Hazmat truck. They were Hazmat reps. I chatted a bit, then 2 police cars drove up.

After lots of questions back and forth I found out: Hazmat had been CALLED by the old guy's niece to see they could 'do anything' about the problems. She had contacted my favorite guy, Brad, but he was off that day so he sent Dave. Dave is also nice. AND the police told me that the niece called THEM! Wow. This was after I said good luck with getting her to respond (we had talked about all the stuff going on and they told me she prompted today's Hazmat/police look-see). Nice to know.

Also found out that she told them the Estate is NOT settled so there isn't much anyone can do right now. There must be some liens or disagreements in the family, or some claims by others (maybe Bad Gal or the Snake) that are holding up the settlement. We all discussed getting someone to nail that place shut again (better this time) and as usual, one of the police guys (who had made several trips there) suggested a 'fire' would solve the problem.

In the meantime, the Hazmat gal told me that when they first got there, she HEARD music playing inside and it stopped abruptly. She is sure someone is in there. I told her she was not hallucinating. So I talked loudly all about Bad Gal and all the stuff, hoping it was her or a friend who would tell her what I said. If so, she will be calling me soon to yell about me telling tales about her. Good if she does.

Anyway, police asked WHY the electricity is still on in there and we are pretty sure the niece is paying the bill and leaves it. So after weeks of all lights on, then a few off and then others on just the night before, THAT night, NO lights, nowhere, nothing, nada. Geez! Guess THEY heard us. So it's totally dark over there.

Only explanation is 'they' turned them off to hide, or crossing fingers that Hazmat contacted the niece and she called our power company and had the power cut. Hope it's door 2. Two nights now NO lights anywhere. Nothing moved on driveway, saw nobody anywhere, but I'm sure someone is inside or coming and going in the darkness. Her ex boyfriend (who I called) did what I suggested and went over at 2:30 am and rang Bad Gal's phone and listened to see if he heard it ringing inside the house. He KNOWS that house in and out. No ringing, but he says he HEARD footsteps going back and forth between windows in the living room as he walked back and forth on the sidewalk. Someone is definitely inside and aware we are watching.

Can hardly wait to see what favorite Hazmat Brad says when Dave reports to him. Maybe we will see another major caution tape thingy due to 'radium' that is in high levels STILL according to the Hazmat guy. Hope so. Lock up tight or burn. Don't care. Other option from the police is that they get the city involved and condemn the house and have it bulldozed. I like that one a lot.

Off to watch the 'non-action'.

Always entertaining Sorta!

Just got back from shopping and that 'suitcase' and duffle bag that sat outside the house near the fence is GONE! Was there Wednesday/Thursday/Friday and today I guess they collected their loot. Still waiting to see if anyone is inside. I'm betting YES.

Oh and I forgot to mention that the day I called cops about 2 people in the house and they actually caught them the next day and detained and questioned them and let them go and then they came back in a few hours and carted away a bunch of stuff, that THEY showed the cops that THEY had the KEY to the back door. This is the key to the knob that Bad Gal admits she put there. Uhhuh. So guess who gave them the key? Huh? Guess. Just cements what we all knew. Bad Gal is behind everything happening there. She was so adamant about 'those thieves stealing from poor old...' and it was she who gave them the access. Stupid stupid.

Can't wait till something positive happens. It's probably going to be Tuesday as my neighbor lady who watches with me is off to the Casino all day and I have a lunch 'date' with my teacher friends. So it's the perfect day for everything to happen and neither of us will be home to see it. Yup. We are predicting.

As many times the police and Hazmat have been called, you'd think one or both would do something to put an end of anyone needing to call them. There's been a lot of money spent by both on this house.

My first though for finding out whose around the house after dark is in using a well placed bear trap, or two. But it'd also find the good guys as well. Maybe a well trained dog who remains quiet until a certain point of approach has been reached.

Interesting thoughts Homer. I was thinking about installing some sort of horrible sounding alarm, but then the raccoons might trigger it too. An automatic light would be good, but the thieves would probably just steal it and then my 30 bucks would be wasted. I have a solar powered security light on my driveway entrance now, right where the transients like to potty. So far no more trouble and doesn't cost me electricity. Nice.

How about a moat with alligators for that house? Or a 12 foot barbed wire fence? Or we could call out the local military? Oh wait! That actually gives me an idea. We have 'Guardian Angels' around here. I wonder if they would consider it a worthy cause? I'm going to do some investigation.

It just makes me so mad that people can, in broad daylight, consistantly, carry away THINGS from a house, and the police can't or won't arrest them for stealing. Who cares if there is no one to complain who has 'authority'. It's still stealing. Just like looting I figure and we all know that most of the time, they just let the looters go because it's easier than catching or prosecuting them. Mad mad mad at all of this when the criminals KNOW that they can get away with it. Very bad way to run a city.

Still thinking about recontacting the lady on the side street and see if she will go to the TV stations.


NEW STUFF!!!! My neighbor just called about a power company truck parked on the side street. I got out my binoculars and saw a TAG on the front door (no oen has opened that door for 30 years or more) so when the truck left, She and I walked over and looked at the tag and it was from the power company and said "Your GAS meter has been turned OFF", AND then we walked around to the side where the electric meter is (one of those new fangled digital ones) and with the binoculars I could see it cycling from date to time to numbers and THEN miracle of miracles OFF!

So the Gas/Electric are OFF and now all we wait for is the water company to come and shut off the water which they will BOLT closed so it can't be turned on again. Oh joy! Things are finally finally happening. Wheeeeeee!

They may be interesting ideas Sorta, but doing any of those things and it'd be person setting up everything that would be arrested. You and I, and probably many more, are on the same page in that stealing is stealing, PERIOD. I know around here if someone is caught carting off something that doesn't belong to them it's theft.

Several months ago some people were helping themselves to some junk metal a guy had laying around on his property here in our community. Sheriff just happened to be hitting our area at that time and caught them. They were arrested and charged with a felony. And the funny this was when the sheriff talked to the owner the owner said they should have asked because he would have given it all to those guys. Now all of them have a felony arrest on their records.

Oh Homer, how I wish your police were HERE. Ours are just not wanting to do unnecessary paperwork. They KNOW there are thefts and break-ins but the DA won't prosecute a case where the 'owner' won't press charges. Guess if you die and leave a bunch of stuff in your house, it's FREE for anyone to come and take and constantly break in. Makes me so mad.

So this morning...at 2:30AM! Got a call from the caretaker guy (the one with the junkie exgirlfriend). He drives by on the way home from the bars or gambling and checks out the house. So he is walking by and just as he gets to the back door area (the only one that ever opens) he hears MALE voices and sees the screen security door opening (from the inside). He never saw anyone and was so scared he ran back across the street to his car and called 911. Oh dear. I've told him a bunch of times NOT to call 911 but to call the local non-emergency number. He doesn't listen due to some slight mental problems.

So I look out the window just in time to see 2 police cars leaving. He said they checked things out, refused to go inside even though the door was WIDE open and left it OPEN. I finally convinced him to leave 1/2 hour later so I could get some sleep. I went over this morning and the door was closed again. They are still in there probably.

Still stuff on the driveway from all the spilled trash cans, but some of it HAS been moved or taken. Different look. Guess they are shopping non-stop. I'm positive it's all his ex girlfriend's doing. She told everyone about this treasure trove and she gave them the key.

I can hardly wait to see what happens today. I'm sooooooo tired (sleepy too).

I was just thinking, do you know anyone who has a problem with a skunk? Perhaps they'd like to find it a new home.

The law enforcement around here make arrests when they witness a crime in progress. What happens afterward I couldn't say. I say law enforcement because while it might be a Sheriff officer it could also be the Highway Patrol or town police. Everything is spread so far and wide they help each other.

Homer,

I love your skunk idea! Maybe it could be done by finding someone who knows how to handle skunks; capture it, let it get into the house and scram! Gal pal would be out of there so fast-then everything in the house would be completely ruined and definitely cause to burn it. But, of course, the down side would be the lingering stench in the area for a while.

Sorta, Homer's idea could be done on the sly; who'd know? problem solved!

I seriously considered Homer's skunk solution. Then I worried that someone would hurt the poor innocent skunk. Awwww. Can't have that. I wonder if I could get my hands on a smoke thingy that you toss? Probably illegal. It could be lobbed directly under the house and the stench would go up through the hole in the floor that Bad Gal made. Oh the joy of thinking about people running out.

My other idea was to make a sign and put it at the corner, "FREE stuff. Just walk in and take what you want. Lots of good stuff, absolutely free.". I can just imagine the frenzy of everyone driving up and loading everything they can grab. That would for sure get the police here in a minute. Yup, a crowd of 'looters'. Probably would have the news media here too. Only problem would be that I'd be the one arrested for putting up the sign. I KNOW other people, besides me, watch the neighborhood doings. It would be just my luck to have been seen posting the free goodies sign.

OR...just file a lawsuit against the niece for enabling a nuisance. She is after doing nothing to put a stop to the trouble.

So the local city property taxes just got mailed. We can look them up on-line by address or plot number. I checked the empty house after he died and found that when it became an 'estate' they upped the incredibly low taxes (400ish a year) and they had assessed a 'supplemental' tax for the change (happens when you remortgage or change the names), of 800ish x 2, due by December 10 of this year. So far nobody has paid that one. Still waiting to see if it gets paid. THEN the new taxes for next year are 3000ish! Also 1/2 due by Dec 10 of this year. So add that all together and the 'estate' is going to have to pay just short of 5000 in property tax by February 10 of 2015. Wow. The 'regular' assessment is just shy of what I pay for my property which is 3 times as large and has 3 houses on it. Wonder why they have such a high assessment? That house is 1930's falling apart, termited, rotted, vandalized, etc. I think it might be because it's on a corner. Maybe double assessment for that?

In any case, out here, they have 5 years before the city will take the property (if you don't pay anything on the taxes). Guess we will be waiting a long time to see if this whole thing resolves itself. And I'm pretty sure, they owe for the two times it got boarded up (professionally albeit poorly), and maybe the multi-times Hazmat has been there doing stuff.

I'd love to SUE someone. Just don't want to do it all by myself. Oh, and the yard is now starting to grow HUGE tumbleweeds, which will eventually dry out, turn into fire hazards, etc. Can hardly wait to see what that will do.

Bad Gal still not in jail but any day now. Yup, they are looking for her. Too bad locking her up won't stop all this looting since she has told everyone she knows about this place.

Ouch, that's one hefty tax. Almost sounds like someone heard Estate and saw dollar signs. Some cities have regulations about letting a yard grow too tall. One of our local cities has a ordinance which allows them to mow a yard after a certain time period and charge the property owner. Does your city have something like this Sorta?

Ah yes we do have such ordinances. Trouble is getting the authorities to actually ACT on them. Same problem as the police refusing to arrest the looters.

We have places to call with complaints about overgrown yards, abandoned houses, illegally parked vehicles, trash on the sidewalks, missing or defaced traffic signs, dead animals, etc. They recently started a computer site where you can just type in the problem, anonymously if you wish, and eventually someone will look into the problems.

So I did that with an abandoned (well sort of) vehicle in front of the empty house. Truck and low trailer parked there for 2 months now (we have a 72 hour limit on our streets). You can park in front of your house as long as you use the car all the time, but not just leave junk cars on the street etc. So this guy parked his truck/trailer and walked off around the block. He came back a full month later, took the truck and returned 3 days later and parked right in the same spot. The second parking he actually walked UP my driveway, halfway to my tenant's houses (so I was a bit wary of his motives). Then he was off again in the same direction.

So I reported this parking problem after watching it for 2 months. Nothing has been done for 3 weeks now, but they eventually will do something. BUT last night, my friend told me to look at my 'report'. Seems someone doesn't like what I wrote, attacked my character, etc. It's either the guy who owns the truck, or the policeman who I had a tiff with (mr. supercop) or a neighbor who doesn't like me. Wording of the response is filled with 'key' words I can interpret well after 33 years of teaching English.

So today, I will read that response again and decide if I should complain to the 'moderator' of that law enforcement sponsored site about 'not playing nice'. There is a warning when you sign up about that. You are not supposed to 'flame' others who are trying to clean up the neighborhood. I should think they could quietly tell whoever is being grouchy to not make personal attacks. Oh and the real tip off: The writer referred to my listing and used the pronoun SHE! Nothing in my complaint indicates that I am female. Uhhuh. Probably someone around here who knows me or suspects it was me since I mentioned my security cameras being blocked by the vehicle's position.

Gonna be a fun day in Sorta's Neighborhood for sure! Loving it.

UPDATE: Truck and trailer went bye bye about 1 hour ago when I wasn't looking. Hope it stays gone. Now I'm pretty sure it was the guy who owns it that wrote the nastygram. If he comes back we shall declare war.

The city I spoke about is small, around 18-20 thousand. They don't have a problem taking care of yards which have overgrown. They'll notify the owner to clean up the yard or after so many days they will take care of it and bill the owner. Same thing applies to alleys. Owner is notified, and after so many days that area gets cleaned up and the owner billed.

It doesn't make much sense to have an ordinance if it isn't upheld. Either things are dealt with under the ordinance or the ordinance should be repealed.

Yup, our town isn't that small unfortunately and has been deluged by political and fiscal problems. Everyone who was 'good' left for better places and now we have not much in the way of those few who really care. Nobody wants to enforce the 'little' stuff (like trucks parked for 2 months) but they sure love the car chases and assaults and unfortunately murders of late. EVERYONE on the force shows up for those and gets their faces on the new, etc. It's like a party when we have an 'event'. Even the old guy's house gets about 6 cars and they they all stand and joke and chat for 1/2 hour after the look-see. It's stupid.

Used to have dedicated guys, who you could really trust to help you. Now I am hesitant to call the police after getting that 'interrogation' by that nasty little newbie. I did get an apology from the Sergeant but he's one of the 'oldies'. Just wish the crooks were not in charge here. They know they won't get arrested for little things so they continue. Huge, fast growing, city within a bigger city and even the bigger one (San Diego proper) is losing it's older, experienced guys because of better pay and better treatment elsewhere. Sad very sad.

Good news is: The truck and trailer have not returned yet. I am not celebrating just yet as it was gone 2-3 days last month about this same time and he may just be on a 'run' somewhere. I can only guess what he might be doing since that nastygram he left on the 'fix' site which was directed at me. Gotta wonder about people who break the law and then lash out at those who don't.

The problem you're having with the police stems from bad management, they've lost their view of what police are suppose to do. Any time politics enters the picture, any picture, things go into the toilet. It starts becoming more important to LOOK like something's being done rather than things getting done. Little things don't improve ones image, big things do, so the little laws get ignored or pushed to the back burner. Old timers or newbies, if they feel you're bothering them when you report a crime, any crime, it's time for them to see new places, meet new people, just not where they are. And it's time to get someone at the helm who gives a toot about politics, but wants to uphold the law(s).

Yeah Homer, you hit the nail on the head. Not getting into too much of the political stuff, the problems started when our police chief left and we got a new one, who wasn't highly rated and had held another public office before and didn't do well there. Loads of protests. So I am pretty sure the trickle down effect is from the top and the underlings just don't care anymore since they are not getting any back up from the top. I can tell from the comments of the officers who respond to my looting problems across the way. They all say the same thing. Keep calling, can't do anything, but maybe the 'higher ups' will eventually get the message that something has to be done.

I had the same problem when I was teaching. I'd do MY job, but when I needed help from the disciplinary team, or needed supplies, I got no respect. Had kids coming back into class laughing and celebrating after I referred them for really bad behavior. It just reinforced their ability to terrorize me and the classes. Like many other teachers, I ended up spending my money for supplies just so I could keep my classes going.

It happens all over. It's just the way things are now except in lovely small pockets of 'retro America' where people actually know their neighbors, care about each other, and can count on authority doing its job when it's needed. I lived and worked in a town of 17,000 and we had the best police and fire departments. They were friendly, quick to respond, went above and beyond. Nice place to live when you knew they 'had your back'.

Sad world now, but I keep hoping things will be better. There is still a spark of good that I am guarding. Gotta keep going even if nobody else will.

Still no truck and trailer and no more nasty comments on my request for its removal. In 3 days we will know if he's just on a 'run' somewhere, or if he got annoyed/scared enough to permanently remove the offending vehicles. My neighbor and I did sweeps of the area looking for the vehicles in case he moved them nearby. Saw nothing, but found a few others that are 'regulars'. My favorite is 'Scooter Girl'. She goes around here on a razor scooter and collects cans, etc. She LIVES in an old car, which is so overloaded with 'bags' of stuff all over it, hanging off the back, sides, top. It's actually drivable, and when her plates got stolen, she drove to the DMV and got new ones. She has some favorite parking spots, and she moves the car about every 3 months. found it yesterday, less stuff hanging on it and ironically enough, it's right in front of the DRUG houses where Bad Gal hangs out. Now how's that for weird? Wonder if they are all together now. Scooter Girl goes by the empty house every day. She might be one of the frequent flyers at night taking things or actually staying inside. I'm watching.

Security tape caught 2 people in a small black car, LOADING about 9 huge boxes and bags of stuff from the empty house. This was in broad daylight again at 6:30 am this morning. Tons of people drove by, they just kept tossing and handing things over the fence and casually loading the car. One of the vehicles that drove by belongs to the Roofer guy directly across the street who had a clear view of the activity as he drove out. Do you think anyone there called the cops? Nope. Nobody cares anymore, probably never did. So disheartening.

My neighbor gal predicted that since it's the end/beginning of the month, and Bad Gal needs bail money that there would be a major looting to get her the money. She was RIGHT! Wow. We know people have been in there for days and days just boxing and sorting things.

Soon they will have the place cleared out and they will probably torch it just for spite. Yup. I'm predicting.

Sorta, I was going to suggest going to the City Counsel and bring up the problem with that house and the continuing looting. And that the police aren't doing enough to stop it, but it's possible they and the police Chief are on the same page. Still, it might be something to consider as concerned citizens.

From what you're describing Sorta, about the continued looting, in broad daylight no less, these people know the police aren't going to do anything even if they do show up. It's as though the police have lost their teeth and the crooks know it. The continuing problem with that house would make an investigative reporters' day if one were investigating the police department and their lack of action(s). It still confuses me that this problem has continued for so long without any official taking notice, or getting involved to end it.

Yeah Homer. At first, in May of 2012,the police were gung ho about it all but when it became a problem was when the old guy was unable to complain for himself, and the 'snake' guy scared the 'caretaker' guy away, it all fell apart. Then the 'caretaker's' girlfriend (now an ex) was actively looting the place little by little and all of us were fooled. She, being a friend of the caretaker guy, we figured HE being so honest and nice that she would be also. Took us all a load of time to figure it all out.
I have no doubt that the constant looting is all HER doing. She enlists her 'gang' and they do it for her now. She doesn't dare come around when she has that warrant.

Other problem is that the 'estate' is now in the hands of the Niece and she is not helpful, doesn't want to deal with any problems and prefers to just let it go. Since she's way across the country, I can sorta see her point. Then again, there is a property sitting there worth about 300k and you would think his family would want to cash in on that.

After Yesterday's looting in broad daylight again, and probably the same guys (car looks very familiar) I'm about to throw in the towel and only report if the place catches fire. Police just won't arrest anyone. Obvious door wide open doesn't even get them to go inside and check it out, or even try to get the place nailed up. I can see why. Takes one night and the crooks break in again. Futile efforts all around.

Someday this will all resolve itself. Just don't know when. My neighbor and I are predicting Winter, when it's cold and someone starts a fire in there to keep warm. No gas or electric now so nothing to make it nice. Weather great for now.

Wish I could go to the city whoever, but I can't get the backing of my neighbors and I don't want to be the one on TV where all the world can see me and my house. They don't want to be involved either, now that they see the police are not helpful. Police respond, but do nothing. Makes you feel stupid for even trying.

I keep hoping and praying for a SWAT team to just attack the place and drag out whoever is in there boxing up stuff. Or maybe someone NEW will move into the neighborhood and see the action and THEY might be the type to get involved.

I can't count the number of times I've called the police and others. I'm exhausted. Didn't call yesterday at all. I figured they were already gone and last time I had VIDEO of the theft, police still did nothing even when they said they recognized the looters and knew where they lived. Go figure.

I'll just sit and watch and hope. Maybe we can get Zombies to move in and scare off the looters?

Sorta, with the videos and other proof, I will bet your local news station would be happy to cover the negligence.

I keep thinking the same thing about the local news station...

I've thought the same thing about TV stations, but it's got to be something important and tells a story which will cause people to act. Just reporting on a neglected house isn't going to raise many eyebrows, but let the place catch fire or a body be found and those will make the news. As I said in a previous post, if an investigation of the police department is taking place, and someone is looking for proof of poor management, then that house would help provide proof. And if this house is part of a pattern which has developed since the new police chief, it goes a long way in providing proof. It would also help put the niece on the spot since a reporter would contact the person handling the estate.

I see four ways this situation will end: a body is found on the property; Sorta's house fire; the niece finally deals with the situation; an investigation of the police department is taking place and the house is used as evidence.

When this thing finally resolves, I'll be happy to post lovely pictures of the action. Hope it's soon. I'm so tired of watching and waiting. Although:

After Wednesday morning's looting in broad daylight, I decided NOT to call the ex boyfriend and just let it ride. He obsesses over it all and comes to 'patrol' almost every night, but of course nothing can be done. He's just so tied in with this since the old guy and he lived together fora few years and they went Casino hopping etc.

So when I didn't call him, it was a great move. HE came over yesterday to ask of 'anything' had happened over there, and I asked him why. He said Bad Gal had called him Wednesday Afternoon! She asked HIM if anything was going on, then launched into blaming other people for breaking in, etc. She also volunteered how hard it was to break into the WALLS. We know she had been chopping into walls thinking the old guy might have hidden money in them. She also told me a long time ago that she had gone through every book and magazine he had looking for money. She did find some then.

So here's the fun. SHE knows about the looting Wednesday morning or was involved in it and she wanted the ex to let her know if I had seen anything and called him. Ha. So clever is she? Luckily he didn't know anything because I didn't tell him, so now she thinks nobody saw anything and it's safe to continue the 'shopping spree'.

Gonna be a fun weekend around here. Nothing happened last night that I saw, but it's so dark over there without lights that the only thing I can see on camera is a car driving up (lights). Nothing approached all night. Maybe today at high noon?

Well, it's been awhile, but today was the best/worst day ever.

This morning a guy on a bicycle hopped over the fence and scored a wooden box with some electronic parts in it. It looked like he was not a 'regular' but just passing by and saw all the stuff strew around the driveway.

For the past week, people have been hopping the fence, using the oh so handy, bathtub chair, that the police thoughtfully left OUTSIDE the fence. Makes it so much easier to get over the fence if your climbing skills are lacking or you just have short legs.

So after the guy biked off, I turned on my security tape recorder, and then watched for awhile while I was watching TV. Sure enough, an hour later, a car pulled up on the side street, the passenger got out, hopped the back fence, came back immediately with another 2x2x2 cardboard box and plopped it into the back seat. He went over the fence again, came back with another same description box and then he glanced up and saw ME on my porch with binoculars getting the license number of the car. He DROPPED the box, hopped into the car and off they sped.

I called cops. After all, box on sidewalk, got it all on tape, saw the guys, got the license and car description. Dispatcher was annoyed with me and said, "WHY didn't you call us IMMEDIATELY when this happened?" To which I replied (not so friendly) that I HAD called immediately and the entire thing took less than 30 seconds from start to speed off. She said she would send someone 'when they were available'.

1/2 hour later: I'm on the porch, watching the box, which my tenant/friend had gone over and determined contained clocks and electronics. I had also called the neighbor lady 2 doors down from the house. She is an avid watcher and police caller too.

So while we waited for the police, the CAR drove by MY house slowly, went to the corner, turned and came back up the same street, screeched to a stop at the BOX, and this time the DRIVER jumped out, tossed the box to the passenger, ran back around to the driver's side and whoosh! They sped off again. Whole thing took 10 seconds.

BUT this time, I had my regular camera ready and got a picture of the car (showing the license plate) AND a clear picture of the driver in all his glory. I recognized the T-shirt he was wearing as the same one who took the bike earlier in the week.

So I called the police dispatch back and was told, "You are on the list" and waited for the police, who showed up about 10 minutes later. They (3 of them in 3 cars) were polite, dismissive, told us nothing could be done, took the pictures, etc. They suggested calling the city housing department or code enforcement since they can't even 'ticket' anyone without approval of the 'owner' who isn't cooperating. Yeah, we know.

So the best part? I said, sure, OK, what should I do if THEY come back? The answer, "Don't call us". Yes you heard it right, don't call them, just let it go, is what they said. They said they had the pics and would start a file. I said there ALREADY is a file. They know nothing.

I then joked that we are all trying to guess who the unlucky one will be on each new call, and indicated that they probably draw straws to see who has to handle it, or that they use this house for 'hazing' the new guys. They didn't laugh. I don't care.

What kind of police department tells a citizen NOT to call them when there is an obvious crime in progress??????

I'm still waiting for someone to call a TV station...

ditto Drac. They live for exposing the cops for not doing their duty.

Taking our next actions today. Calling Code Enforcement to see what they say about the 'abandoned house' over grown yard, dying trees, garbage spread out all over the yard and street. Hopefully they will 'care'. My neighbor (84 years young) who isn't proactive on calling or doing, but is concerned and watches and reports to me, is going to call her insurance agent who just happens to be the old guy's insurance agent too. She will ask if the house is STILL insured and then tell him about things going on. It's pulling our property values down, is a fire hazard, etc. That will be more info I can use on the 'proper authorities'. I've got 2 other people who said they would call code enforcement. I'm going to give them the phone number after I call and see what they say to me.

At some point, this house will burn or explode (that tinfoil really concerns me!) or there will be 'violence' of some type and then I will happily tell anyone who will listen that 'I told you so'.

As of last night, no lights in the house (electricity and gas off still I think) but the garage was lit up brightly. Probably a lantern or they found a way to steal electricity from a neighbor. I'll look for 'wires or cords' today.

When those sworn to 'protect and serve' won't do either for the neighborhood people who are reporting CRIME in progress, then I don't have much respect for them. Our firemen are much more 'people friendly' and are there no matter what the problem, how many times you call, etc. Wish the police had the same dedication.

"All that is needed for evil to flourish, is for good people to do nothing..."

The bottom line is there isn't much the police can do without the owner's cooperation, and she has made it very clear that she wants nothing to do with the situation. If they arrest someone for stealing and the person whose things got stolen doesn't want to press charges, then the police have to let the suspects go.

I think your building code enforcement is the way to go. If the house violates code in any way, then the town can fine the owner. If she hasn't paid taxes on the place, then the township can foreclose on it. It also may not hurt to make the mayor's office aware of the eyesore.

I think that policeman stepped over the line by saying "don't call us." If they don't like being called to the same place over and over again, then it's time they take steps to put an end to the activity which has them returning time and again. It would be in their best interest to contact the city attorney to see what steps can be taken to force the niece to get off her duff and do something about the house. Whether she has to help settle the estate, sell the contents of the house to a consignment company, or throw out the stuff.

As long as that house contains things which the lower forms of life find attractive, and the police turn a blind eye, they will continue stealing until the only thing left in the house are the roaches and mice.

If the Code Enforcement people can't, won't, don't do anything to move things along, and because of what that policeman said, perhaps a letter to the States Attorney General might get things moving.

So I've been VERY busy the last 3 days. Lots of fun stuff to do. After I called the police and they told me not to call again (actually he qualified that when he saw my reaction to, 'we have enough info on these guys today'), they left and I called the lady up the street and told her what they said. She is also a proactive gal and calls in frequently. She lives two doors away and her elderly mom lives right next door to the back yard of the empty house.

Anyway, she and I are becoming partners in crime, so the Oxford Street Ladies Detective Agency has a new member. It's her hubby who has an app on his cell phone that gets the local police calls, and he's the one that called me the 'neighborhood cop' many moons ago at a condo fire up the street. He's also the one setting off fireworks (with his son and friends for years). Actually no fireworks for a long time now. Interesting.

So then the day after I got chastised, a heavyset gal parked across the street, got out of her little red minivan and walked over to the empty house. She was very recognizable. I've seen her many times, and she's the one who got caught there long ago with the guy when I had called. They questioned and released even though they were IN the house. BUT she's the same one and as she walked up the sidewalk, she was obviously 'scouting'. Walked up one side, passed 2 doors up, came back, went around the corner, past 2 doors up (right where the new 'detective' lives) and then went back to her car and went away.

Later, several more cars that are 'frequent flyers' cruised by slowly, just looking. We are all getting used to the vehicles and seeing who is in them. They were also scouts. Nothing happened that day, BUT:

Yesterday, oh boy oh boy! At 9:15 I looked out my front door and saw a Jeep parked IN the empty house's driveway. Nobody has done that in months and months. I quickly reviewed my security recording and saw that it had been there for 15 minutes already and TWO gals had gotten out, walked around the sidewalk (just like the single gal the day before). Very casual, looking for all the world like they were realtors, or something. ONE was the same big gal from yesterday and the other, I KNOW from when Bad Gal lived there. Yup, tiny little thing, about the size of a ten year old boy, in fact I thought she was a boy until I asked Bad Gal. At that time we didn't know she was BAD.

So these two walked around, big one had the same shoulder large tote bag as the day before and now had a CLIPBOARD, which she kept 'referring to'. Very clever ruse. I think I'll use that next time I rob a house. Finally they jumped over the fence into the yard and disappeared into the house. The little one had a huge empty garbage bag with her. Since I was told NOT to call the cops, I called the lady up the street and SHE called the cops using my info on the Jeep and it's license number, etc. Interesting that the garbage bag NEVER came OUT.

From that point she and I and my other neighbor were calling back and forth watching from 3 angles while we waited for the police to arrive. Now the 'caller' had the police calls on the other cell and she was listening the whole time, and heard everything. It took 1/2 hour for the police (as usual) BUT when they arrived, the girls were just walking OUT of the back yard, around the corner, and casually to their car, still looking and using the clipboard as a prop. Nothing in their hands.

Neighbor lady caller heard, "Come in from the West side", and then "Now! Go go go!" Just as the gals were getting into the Jeep. It was like a scene from a good cop movie. 3 cars came in, right in line and another from the other way, blocking the Jeep. Awesome! They must have been 'staging' to the East of me and I didn't even think to look up that way. They caught the 2 of them, rousted them from the Jeep, searched them and the car, and plopped them on the curb while they looked around. Another 1/2 hour and they finally took their pictures, and then made the chubby gal dump her tote on the hood of the Jeep and out came tons of 'little' things, which (to my dismay) the cops made her dump over the fence right in plain sight and easy enough to grab. It's the usual thing for them to leave stuff right there, which is so stupid. Just invites others to scavenge.

We knew they would just let them go, but at least they got identification, car and all that good stuff. After everyone was gone, I got my male friend/tenant to walk over with me to see what they dumped over the fence and it was more watch parts and tools. Little stuff, jars of screws and gears, paper packets with huge clock springs, bottles of oil, a bunch of watch crystals (which are all outside the fence and are half broken) but I gathered up about 5 of them because they will be gone in an instant anyway. Fun things.

We also noticed that the police nicely added to the 'ease of entry' by putting a small, 2 step, ladder on the other side of the fence, facing the already in position bathroom chair, so now it's up the chair, over the fence, down the ladder. How nice of them to make it easier. Like I said, stupid people. Oh and it was the SAME 3 policemen who told me not to call who showed up this time. Good thing I didn't call. I am happy at least they got to detain some 'perps'. Maybe they will feel more like real police now that they actually did a 'catch and release'.

Police car just now while I'm writing, cruised by slowly and checked out the house. Nice of them. Nothing going on that we can see, but a yard sale across the street, with lots of cars coming and going. Maybe he got suspicious.

In the meantime, the Code Enforcement guy got my email request. He called the other gal who just left a phone message, and she told him (after he asked if it was her email) that it was mine. He loved the email description and said he had enough info to open a case file on the place. Hooray. Don't know when, but he is on it. Got his name too. And 4 other neighbors have the printed 'complaint' forms from me so they can also contact this guy. I spread them all over to those I know and tried to get them to participate. Cunno how many will actually mail them in. Most people just talk, but won't actually DO. The more the better I figure if they will cooperate.

OH and Bad Gal called me TWICE. Once after the first new break in where I called and was chastised, and then again yesterday after the 2nd big bust. From the way she was talking I KNEW she already knew that something had happened. These are all HER people. I am pretending to be her BFF and we chat for 30=45 minutes each time with her blabbing all sorts of good info including names and places these guys live etc. She's especially keying in on one guy she says IS living in there and gave me his LAST name. She never does that. He must be cutting in on her territory.

Anyway, I'm pumping her ego, making her think I'm on her side, pretending to believe all her lies about her being so innocent of everything, etc. AND didn't tell her the gas/electric had been turned off, (she mentioned maybe getting it turned off) but she volunteered to turn off the water! Great! She had it in her name, never got a bill of course and we were waiting for the water company to just shut it off for non-payment but that takes months. SHE decided it would great to keep those 'thieves' out if they had no water. So for once, she actually told the truth because yesterday morning, the water guy came and locked the meter. How good it that? Now now utilities in there. Whew.

AND she told me (after I mentioned about the foiling on the windows and a possible meth lab going in) that it sounded to her like it too, and then said she 'heard' from some people that there were lots of 'needles' all over the place now. Yup, drug house for sure. She knows everything about everything. She and the ex boyfriend were avid casino goers, still are, but separately now, but both of them told me that the 'regulars' at the casinos are all chatting about, 'have you heard about the empty house on ....Street? It's full of good stuff for the taking". Yup big mouths all over. No wonder we have so many 'shoppers'.

AND the little guy who was supposed to live there with her (back in April/May when she was squatting) and he came by my house crying about all his 'stuff' being inside, etc. I was right, she said it was his drug 'kit' he was after. He's heavy into meth like most of her friends. BUT get this, he was ARRESTED day before yesterday (just after my call to police) on charges of burglary and printing fake checks) 51k bail. Yup, it's him for sure. I'm hoping something from the car description that day that I gave the police a picture of might have led them to him. I read Bad Gal the arrest sheet and she confirmed. What a fun group of people. She's next. Warrant for her has been out for 6 weeks I think but I didn't tell her.

So today, I am hoping for calm. I'm exhausted with all this fun. Waiting for Code Enforcement guy to do something. City can condemn if Niece refuses to cooperate and they prove the house is unsafe to the neighborhood (which it is). They can bulldoze the house and clear the lot. I'd love that. Taxes still due, but not late until Dec 10 so Niece has time to pay them. They were paid last year, but not the 'supplemental' bill for change of owners when he died. Not sure if she is gonna cough up almost 8k for this house. Also found out that even if the taxes are NOT paid, it will be FIVE years before the City will own the property. Yup, they let you go for a full five years on the tax deal. Really nice to know. Code Enforcement can do a much faster job.

Sorta Blonde the Detective signing off for now and taking a much needed food break!

I need more popcorn.

Popcorn in the microwave for everyone! I'm stocking up for something big to happen.

Little happening last night was that some guy in a big pick up truck, pulled over to the side of the road at the empty house, casually got out, walked 10 feet to the driveway fence gate and picked up the bathroom chair sitting on the outside of the fence. He made sure it was 'stable' and then casually walked back to his truck, plopped it into the bed with lots of other things he probably picked up along the streets, and off he went. Good for him! Now there is only the step ladder and a cement block for 'access'. Neighbor and I are celebrating that someone took the chair after the police stupidly left it there for the crooks to use. Nice.

Also, for 2 days, there have been pick up trucks (different ones) parked along the sidewalk at a spot that looks directly into the house's back yard (also can see the garage single door there). Trucks stay about an hour each and then drive off. They all pull up, reposition a few times, and then nobody gets in or out. Might be police 'stake out' or might be neighbors doing the same, but it's very very weird. Another one this morning for an hour between 7:15 and 8:15 am. Interesting. Gotta find out who they are and what they are doing. If it was the SAME truck it would be easier, but all are different, full size, different brands and colors. I know the police have lots of undercover vehicles. Just interested to know if these are some. Probably not, because they hate responding over there, but I can hope.

OH and the light in the garage (dunno what or how because power was cut off 2 weeks ago) was OFF last night for the first time in a week! Maybe the thieves boogied out when the girls got questioned. Crossing fingers. Will check again tonight.

Sorta, it sound like there's a sign on that house which reads "open house, take all you want."

Would you believe, Homer, that 2 weekends ago, some nutcase from a block away actually attached TWO large cardboard 'Yard Sale' signs directly to the chain link fence of the house and attached them with those nylon strap ties? Uhuh. And guess what, they are STILL there. More stupid people. I walked up the block and sure enough, there was a garage sale going on with two young people with a little baby. They had just moved in 2 weeks before so the guy said. I didn't mention the obvious lack of brain power it took to attach THEIR signs to someone else's fence. I wanted to, oh yes. So it's one more little, 'come on in' the coast is clear message to everyone. I'm now wondering if that guy has something to do with anything of the looting? It's possible. I mentioned all the 'break ins' just up the block to them without saying where and cautioned them to be careful. No real reaction except he said he knew all his neighbors already, etc.

Nothing new today, I think, but maybe I'll see something I missed over night. Still waiting for Code Enforcement to appear and actually look at the place.

And yet AGAIN this morning. Actually it started last evening. A 'suspicious' guy on a bicycle kept going round and round the house and in the intersection. Both I and my neighbor watched him and commented on his weird behavior. He was also around just a few minutes ago. Very suspicious but not when you read what happened this morning:

This morning, 6:45 am, I saw a guy hop the driveway fence. I turned on the recorder and fell asleep again, and 45 minutes later my neighbor called to say there were police cars all over, again. I reviewed the tape and saw that after the first guy, 2 more came down the same way, but went around the corner and sat down on the curb. They stayed there for 1/2 or more. My neighbor thought maybe one was drunk and the other was 'helping' him. Nope. They were lookouts. As they sat, one got up, walked to the corner and back and sat down again. Then a guy walked up from the opposite direction right by my house. He had a backpack and dufflebag. He passed by the two sitters, no sign of recognition at all from anyone, and he walked to the back yard and up and over the fence and crossed the yard out of sight.

Then just a few minutes later, my neighbor on the side street drove out and around the corner sort of slow and continued up the street at which time one of the sitters, got up, walked to the corner again, made sure my neighbor's car was gone, went back to his partner, they both walked to the back fence and the 'spotter' went over the fence and across the back yard while the sitter walked up past the neighbor's house and out of my line of sight. He might have been still there as a lookout somewhere.

So the police showed up in about 10 minutes (4 cars), spent 1/2 hour doing 'things' came out with one guy and after a few minutes, let him go. I get so mad when they do that. But that left TWO others in the house or garage. They probably have no idea they missed 2 and got only one. But then again, maybe the one was a 'sacrificial lamb' just so the other 2 could get away later. I'm still recording so I will see if I catch them leaving.

Still no new word from code enforcement, I'm not so optimistic since it's been a week with no word to me from them. We will probably be playing this game forever. It's just Catch and Release every time.

OH but interesting news is Bad Gal's warrant is cleared and she's NOT in jail so she must have gotten enough money from the looting to pay the bail and is out until whenever. Good for her.

Some good news. Well almost good news, it's a start.

Last night's local news (at least 2 of the 5 stations) ran a story about MY neighborhood and a 'drug house, people coming and going, guns seen, threats made to residents, violence, death threats to one lady'. Group of neighbors went to city council meeting (seen on video). Well, for a split second I thought it might be MY problem in progress. It turns out, and this is good and bad, the house in question is only 3 1/2 blocks from here, has been doing this for FIVE years since the old guy moved in, and finally the neighbors are fed up.

Amazing that the story line is so similar to what's happening across the street. Seems a 77 year old man lives there, rents out rooms to low-life and they are the ones selling and using drugs, etc. Oh and I forgot all the stolen vehicles and other obviously stolen goods coming and going.

Anyway, finally it came to a head when there were SIXTY-TWO police calls to that house in the last 6 months and finally, after residents went to city council yesterday, the DA said she would be investigating. Same story, police 'have done all they could' (yeah we know that one by heart), but the DA would be trying to see what could be 'legally' done to help the problem. I have no doubt these people have been going through all the lack of concern that we have right here.

I'm going to follow the story of that house AND isn't it strange that when the owner (who says he lives there) was confronted by the News Media live on camera, he said, 'there were some bad people living here, but they are gone now'. Like we actually believe him? He lived right there while it was all going on and still does. He was very anxious to avoid the cameras.

I guess MY situation could be worse. Oh wait, IF the old guy is telling the truth about 'they are gone', then maybe some of the sudden increase of people coming in to OUR empty house this last weekend has a direct correlation to that? Could all the influx be due to those guys looking for new places to live and set up shop? AND strangely enough, when the camera zoomed in on some of the windows of that house, there was TINFOIL in the windows!!!!! Oh now I'm really intrigued. Hope their problem is not contributing to ours.

Sorta Blonde Detective on the job!

I would run, not walk, to my phone and call the DA's office and let them know that the two situations might be related. Who knows, maybe you even video surveillance of the same people causing problems 3 1/2 blocks away.

Called the gal across the street who is probably more ferocious about calling the police than I because her house is closer and her mom's house is right at the back yard of the empty house and they all can hear the chain link fence when someone jumps over it. She had seen the news stories too, but not until after she had driven right by the street in question and saw several police cars with lights blinking, blocking the access. Must have been when they arrested the wife of the old man who is renting out rooms to druggies. The wife made death threats to one of the neighbors who called the police many times. The house's owner is 77 and his wife is 43. I'm guessing the wife is the one who brought in all the low lifes and the old guy probably just is oblivious. Ya never know.

Anyway, the gal up the street is more than willing to continue the 'hunt' and IF we hear a favorable outcome, she is willing to go with me to the city attorney (like these other people did) and try to get something going. We just have to wait and watch and keep gathering information.

It took FIVE years for the other people to get to this point and I guess it was the death threat that really got things going. I sure don't want that to happen to me or any of my neighbors.

Yesterday, the 'entry' under the house was wide open again. Someone is in there again. It's never ending. Haven't seen anyone go in or out, but it's very dark at night now (no moon) and they could be coming and going. They always seem to wear black clothing.

Still watching, not going to record at night until the moon if fuller and I can actually see movement. Still, if it took 5 year and a death threat to get something going with the other place, I can only wonder how long before we see something good happening. I'm still concerned that now that the other guy said, 'there were some bad people here, but they are gone now', that some of those people might be migrating to THIS house. It might explain the activity a few days back of no less than SEVEN people going in or out. Was a strange day. Could be the 'evicted' guys from 3-4 blocks away. Certainly close enough to get here. And one had a backpack and another a duffle bag. Hummmm. Food for thought.

It'd be good for those elected officials to get it in gear and deal with problems brought to their attention. People have a very long memory when their elected officials blow off a problem citizens bring to their attention. All this hand ringing isn't doing their prospects any good for a continued life in the office they now hold. And if everyone is sitting on their hands because of existing laws, then it's time to try and get those laws changed to something which will allow these folks to finally take action.

It's election day in a few. I'm hoping that there are some changes in our city and maybe I can start by dealing with the NEW guys. One is a 'kid' I went to school with and he's running for Mayor. Might be something there if he remembers me. I'm sure he does. Shrimpy little guy in college, now huge and handsome and manly.

I will never forget the day we were half-way through our 'student teaching' for our credentials and he came running up to me in the hallway of the school we BOTH got assigned to. He was bouncing and jumping and waving a paper and yelling at me, "I got a job, I got a job!" That was very nice except neither of us had finished school yet and HE had a job? HIM? Oh, did I forget to tell you he was the SON of the Superintendent? Yup, of course he got hired before he had credentials. Duh. Took me 9 years to get a job in this school district after graduation. I grew up here as did he, but he got hired and I had to go 150 miles away, to the desert, and be miserable while he came up through the ranks and now is most likely going to be Mayor. He will be good at it. I just remember him as a tiny, whiny, kid.

In other news: It's Halloween and I just woke up remembering that LAST Halloween was the first of the BIG invasions of the house. Lots of dark and action in the neighborhood and all the noise and stuff happening masked the tearing off of the boarded up house stuff. Next morning, everything was open and scattered goodies all around. Tonight, I'm going to be on watch. Won't help much, but at least we can interrupt their plans a bit. I found that one of my little flashlights has a massive beam (not laser) that when focused lights up that house like daytime! Awesome. I can just stand on my porch and shine it on the driveway 'entry' point and on the back yard too and it's bright as day. Might be something to play with since it's going to be a bumpy ride tonight anyway. Gonna experiment and have some fun.

I still think moving a family of skunks into that house would solve a lot of problems. Unless, of course, anyone has a cold.

Skunks are a great idea, but then I'd be afraid someone would hurt the poor little innocent skunks.

Last night, the Big Halloween, someone finally took down the 'yard sale' huge signs. I guess the people from the other end of the block took their kid trick or treating and decided since they walked 'all the way' down the block, they would remove the signs. Duh. It's only been 3 weeks.

But, then, while looking for the signs (it rained and they might have fallen off) I noticed that the mailbox has been graced with Graffiti. Yup, I think it says FREAK, but I can't tell from a distance. Someone just scratched whatever into the mailbox side from top to bottom in huge letters that cover the entire mailbox. Dunno why, or what at this point. Too many kids and others roaming the neighborhood last night to see anything.

It's been way too quiet over at the 'Emporium'. A week ago, some guy in nice clothing (unusual for this area where everyone hopping the fences is in 'gang' garb) walked up to the front door and took the 'gas turned off' sign put there by the gas and electric company. He walked through the FRONT gate which nobody every uses (except the thieves) and seemed to know how it worked to get it to open while still being locked.

He was driving a small white car. Then the next day (Saturday of last week) another guy walked IN the gate. I looked across the street and right there, in back of my nasty neighbor's SUV was a shiny red sports car. HE had come from the car! So this one parked in front of a house, crossed the street to get to the old guy's house. HE walked in the gate and immediately around to the back of the house and out of sight. 10 minutes later, he casually walked out with some papers in his hand, nothing else, and got back into the red car and drove off.

THEN a full week later, last night, the red car parked in the same spot at 8:15 pm. I didn't see the guy until I noticed someone walking from the 'other' direction and into the gate and around the back of the house. Took me an hour and a half to figure out that there were TWO, maybe three guys going into the house. They stayed in there most of the 1 1/2 hours and then one came back to the car, loaded something into the back seat, and into the trunk and then got in. THEN he got back out, walked to the corner and came back with more 'stuff' and ANOTHER guy. They both packed the car and drove off.

By the time they drove off, I had walked down my driveway and up the street (on my side) way past the old guy's house. The red car SLOWED down as they passed me and I just kept looking down and didn't 'see' them. I was just getting back to my driveway when that SAME car came down the side street (opposite my driveway) and parked at the back of the house. They had driven around the block. TWO guys got out, loaded some large boxes into the car, then both got in and drove around to the front of the house where they loaded MORE boxes and bags of stuff for about 10 minutes. I could hear the driveway fence rattling and clanging the whole time. I'm thinking there could be three people involved. Two in the car (which drove away) and one LEFT in the house who was shuttling the goodies to the fence for pick up. Probably Bad Gal. She possibly might have been in there all week packing stuff for these guys to take.

This morning, one of the huge overflowing trash cans has been moved against the fence, probably to aid in jumping over the back gate or it might have had 'stuff' in it and they wheeled it to the gate to be easier than making many trips.

A never ending shopping spree, and it's not even Black Friday yet!

This whole thing continues to baffle me that no one actually involved with that house gives a flip it's being robbed lock stock and barrel. And that law enforcement can't do a thing to stop it unless the niece gets involved. Tax payers deserve better from those whose salaries they pay than holding their hands in the air and declare there's nothing they can do. Isn't burglary burglary?

Yeah Homer, I've totally lost faith in our law enforcement here. After all this stupidity, and the last guy telling me 'don't call us', I've decided not to bother with the police. I'm just 'recording' and documenting what's happening just in case some day someone actually wakes up and figures out they should prosecute some of the thieves. I can just see the police force saying they 'had no idea!' that anything was happening. Yup. It' sad when you feel those who 'serve and protect' are doing neither. Really a weird feeling.

Last night again, single car, single male. I think it was a 'delivery'. Guy got out of car right out front of the house, walked in gate, around back of house. He was smoking and the total time from 'park' till 'drive off' was 2 minutes. I think maybe Bad Gal needed some cigs and he was the delivery boy. Saw nothing in his hands coming or going. Pretty sure with my Spidey Sense' that Bad Gal is indeed living in there now and boxing things and calls for deliveries and pick ups when necessary.

Can't do anything, won't do anything. Loads of neighbors RIGHT there, walking by, parking by the offenders as they load stuff and hop fences, etc. but nobody calls the cops. Amazing. Just wait until it's THEIR house getting robbed and see how loud they yell.

My neighbor and I are still trying to do something, but if the police and DA can't do anything about that obvious drug house 3 blocks from here for the last FIVE years despite all the pleadings of the neighbors there, then we have no chance. We are 'small fish'. It's hard to mount a crusade to fight evil when there are only 2 or 3 souls brave enough to do anything.

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

Yep Yankee, the 'stuff' that was in the house was so hoarded you couldn't even see the floor or ANY furniture or appliances. The Niece came out twice, took a few little things like some china, knick knacks, a few books and picture albums. Not nearly all he had OH and of course she took his almost new Ford SUV. Drove off with it. Dunno if she gave it away or sold it or drove it back to South Carolina. She never came back and it's been 2 years.

The Hazardous Materials guys tagged the house after discovering major levels of Mercury (spilled by Bad Gal probably on purpose) but there were still GALLON jugs of it in there. They also found jars of RADIUM paint for watch dials. Enough to render this place a danger to anyone spending any amount of time in there. They said IF the place sold, ALL the contents would have to be gathered and disposed of by a licensed hazardous materials business and the entire house cleaned and then retested.

One can only surmise how much each of the 'looters' and Bad Gal has been exposed to. Casual contact for short periods is fine, but long term would pose a very real health hazard. The doors still have a warning prominently posted about this.

So all the 'stuff' which the Niece didn't want to mess with is now scattered all over the county. I'd be scared to touch any of it without cleaning it thoroughly. Unsuspecting people who bought all this junk are not aware of the dangers, but who knows, maybe it's not that bad.

Donating wasn't an option, so yeah, those who are selling it for their own purposes (mostly to buy crack and heroin) are reaping the benefits. IF someone would completely clean out the place, it would be nice. I don't think that's going to happen since the hoard was major. Lots of clothes and papers, and all sorts of yukky stuff still there.

The house is in terrible shape. Rotted wood outside, all windows just about falling out (wood framed from 1932). Termites, water damage from leaking pipes, no sewer as bathrooms are backed up (septic tank) and non-usable. Wallpaper peeling down from the top and looking like a haunted house. Carpets so worn that all that remains is the cross threads and no nap at all. Asphalt tile floor worn through with holes all over. Hardwood, ditto. AND Bad Gal and her friends have chopped holes in walls and the floor looking for the 'lost treasure'. The hole in the bedroom floor is big enough to allow access to the house from UNDER the crawlspace. What a mess.

We are all hoping the place just catches on fire and we will be done with it.

Couldn't the city just bulldoze it and bury the junk real deep and plant trees and fence it off but leave space so animals can get in and out. It would lend some oxygen in the air and get rid of the creeps. However I would miss the good reading installments.

Having worked in environmental enforcement, no, you can't bury the junk. It would all have to be properly contained and disposed of as hazardous waste... a very expensive proposition. Got to protect our groundwater resources!

Burning would be almost worse as it would disperse all the hazardous materials in the smoke and ash far and wide.

I know several neighbors who would be willing to rent the bull dozer. I even know some who are willing to toss a match in there, but then WE would be arrested and not the real criminals. Such a mess. Keeps us all busy. I'm trying NOT to look over there, but sometimes it just can't be ignored. I wish that Niece, who is in full control of the Estate now, would do SOMETHING! Taxes are now a month overdue. I don't think she intends to pay them. Too bad it takes FIVE full years before the city will confiscate the property for non-payment of taxes.

With all the toxic material still in the house, and possible lead paint because of the age of the house, even demolishing the house would require a hazardous removal contractor.

You hit the nail on the head Homer. Hazmat guy told me that BEFORE anyone would be able to inhabit that house, even if they paid in full in cash, etc., Hazmat would have to come in and make sure it was totally safe. AND yup, it would require a certified, qualified, 'cleanup' crew to do it all. Could be why the Niece isn't anxious to do anything with it. SHE would have to foot the cost (or rather the 'estate' would and probably eat up any profit that would be there. However, just the LAND, a nice corner lot of good size would be well worth it. Still should be a good sum of money left even after all the cleanup.

I really think, the family is washing their hands of it, wants the city to take it and then all those costs are against the Estate which has NOTHING in it. Sounds like a plan to me.

So I spent all yesterday watching and recording the empty house. Yes, I'm still a bit hooked. No big deal now since I care less and less. Some 'shopper' had left a huge 'air purifier' unit sitting near the fence (tucked in tight) along with a huge hawser. Not sure of the spelling but it's that huge rope they tie up big ships with. And what looked like a very old miner's lamp minus the glass. Watched all day, all night, got up at 2:30am and it was still there. Started recording over, heard driveway alarms go off, switched over to see what critter was approaching (gray cat) and promptly fell asleep WITHOUT switching the recording back to the empty house! Hate myself as of course, the stuff is gone this morning. Darn darn. If I don't shape up, I'm going to lose my detective's badge! I really wanted to see who picked up the stuff that obviously was left for them or just wouldn't fit in the load from the night before. Sigh.

Saw a huge U-Haul truck with trailer over there yesterday morning and was hoping that they had come to clean out the place. Turns out it wasn't anyone who was looting. Gotta put up bigger 'FREE STUFF-Grab all you want, the police don't care' signs.

Yeah if you don't shape up I'll just have to take over your job. you know how acreage runs -narrow at the street but very deep. Well, at some time the owners sold the south east corner to a lady who built and opened a pre school - a really small piece of land and building. The bank foreclosed on the last owner and she is gone but in the front yard is a lawnmower, bbq and refrigerator and the 1st thing I thought of -they are looting just like on G'Boomers. I was wrong though as nothing touched. boo hoo

Never fear Yankee, I'll just post that address on the old guy's house and maybe my looters will fly to your area and help you out.

Oh wow! I just looked up your little corner of the world and it's so in the middle of nowhere. Wow. Must be nice to have limited neighbors, but a real 'trip' when you have to get to the store. I used to live in a town of 17000 and I thought THAT was small. One square mile literally, and everyone knew practically everyone. Ohhhh to be in a remote location where you can have peace and quiet. Ahhhhhh.

Go ahead Sorta, but don't tell them I have a BB gun and a sling shot. Actually it would be kinda fun watching the progress. And watching them ruuuun. Sorta did you research Lexington or Blue Branch. Blue Branch is named after a branch off some river. In NY we called them streams but they call it a river here.

I looked at Lexington, but seems Blue Branch looks even smaller?

You got it!!!!! Look up Jackson's Store and I'm about 4 or so houses south on the same side. Mine is the totally wooded area. If you look close you may see the corner that was sold. you will see 2 ponds and on my south side is the neighbor's very long driveway. Good hunting. The round thing in the back was my hunter jumper training ring.

I found YOU! You're not kidding about being 'wooded'. Wow! I'd love all those trees. Nice open areas, lots of land, SPACE around you. Awesome. Amazing how I just typed 'Jackson's Store' and up it came on Google Maps. So easy. But probably not enough 'loot' in the whole area to satisfy the thieves around here. I guess that's a good thing.

Tonight should be another good night for 'shopping' here. A suspicious pickup truck was circling last night. I'm betting that's the one who is the current shopper. Soon the entire place will be empty. Too bad they are ruining what was a lovely (but in need of TLC) 1932 house. Not worth much now unless you want to pour money into it with no return. I still hope the old guy is haunting it. He was a miserly guy and I think if he could, he would be 'overseeing' the criminals. Poor old Frank.

Ya know, you could spoil the spoils for those thieves by getting some skunk oil and apply a liberal dose all over the stuff left by the fence.

Well I don't have any skunk oil, how about I rub a real live skunk on the fence?

Actually, I've considered some tar or other sticky nasty stuff to rub on the fence tops where they always go over. At the very least it would ruin their clothing. Then again, they probably don't care, given the fact they are willing to go into a totally hoarded, messy, yukky, dusty, rat or mouse infested, most likely dangerous to your health, house. They just see a quick buck and more drugs to buy.

Soon it will be empty if they keep up the pace and then we will only have to deal with squatters or kids having parties. I'm still voting for a dead body in there. Taxes STILL not paid and are past due by a month now. I'm pretty sure she intends not to pay anything having to do with the house. Probably just waiting for the city to do a clean up, send her a bill and if she doesn't sell the house, there is ZERO in the estate that they can take except the house, which is actually going to bring in about 300,000 IF she ever gets in gear and sells it. Even with charges and liens and clean up fees, there will still be a load left to split with the relatives. Dunno why she's not doing anything, except that the old guy's family is contentious and nobody speaks to anybody. 2 living brothers, one sister, then this Niece who is the daughter of the brother who, according to the old guy 'stole my gun collection'. He never spoke to him or the rest of the family since 1960 something! Long time to hold a grudge. I'm just musing that the entire family is like him. The Niece sure wasn't very friendly if that's any indication.

Lots of action the past few days, little stuff strewn about like before, walkers stopping by to gather a few little items. Can't fault them, it's right there for the taking. I consider it litter abatement.

So thanks to Ana for the excitement that happened early this morning and then again at 10:00 am. All your doing Ana.

FIVE O'clock AM this morning, got up to go potty and saw blinking lights up the block. Looked out and saw 4 police cars coming in from different directions over 10 minutes. The first blinker must have been the first car. I stayed up, shivering in the cold for an hour, watching the action. From what I can tell, someone was in the old guy's house OR had come out of it and gotten into a car next door on the street. Police were all over a black SUV which eventually got towed away. Never saw that one over there in the past.

In the midst of the blinking police lights, one car drove over to the side street and started spotlighting the house. Really doing a big job of it. All over the house and yard and the houses next door. Then he got out, went over to the house and walked around the entire place, in and out of the yard with his flashlight AND taking PICTURES. Lots of flashes. Probably took about 20 or more shots over there.

Just before that happened, I saw flashes around the area of the car that got towed. Someone wanted to document something. Never saw that many pictures and certainly not by the police.

I walked over later in the morning and found that the double driveway gate with a huge sturdy lock had been breached by actually removing the gate from the side post! It was open and hanging loose. A small pile of 'stuff' was spilling out from under the big sliding garage door.

So I don't really know what happened, but I suspect that someone got arrested, at least got their car towed for some reason having to do with the empty house. Strange since they didn't seem to care before. I talked to the nearest neighbor, who speaks little English and she said, 'early morning, happen' but couldn't say anything more about it. The car that got towed was in front of their house and I know they saw something since they go to work at 5:00 am every day. Might have been them who called the police.

So thanks Ana, for the really awesome present. Good that you could plan it for the Full Moon too. Fantastic.

THEN later, I drove to the store and a small white car was sideways in a driveway against the garage door there, with a small black car nosed into it. Strange positions. Police were there for over an hour and finally the white car got towed away. Damage to garage door too. From what I could see, it was a traffic accident on the street and both vehicles ended up IN the driveway of the house (neither car belonged there). Lots of fun. I can hardly wait to see what else happens with the moon livening it up around here.

You are very welcome Sorta! Maybe they deliberately drove the cars into the building. They steal them in the city here and use them for smash and grabs.

Ana

Same here Ana. Only they use huge pickup trucks and drag away the ATM's with them. Very fun to see on the security cameras. I especially enjoy the ones that haven't got a full brain between them. Always fun to see them dragging an ATM with a chain down the street.

Aha! An update from the neighbor across and up the side street. Her husband JUST told her about the big deal which happened a few days ago. Duh. She's mad at him now. Anyway, seems he was up when the police deal went on and saw 3 people handcuffed and sitting on the curb. He also saw them tow away a 'newer' Ford Expedition. From all the info and the activity we all 'think' that this was a police 'chase' which ended up at the house with the Ford pulling in to the curb (in the wrong direction) and the occupants running into and through the old guy's yard and house. The neighbor guy actually saw the police go INTO the house this time. They never do even though the door is wide open. So it appears the whole thing wasn't directly related to looting, but that the arrested people might have known the house or been looters and thought it was a good place to hide. Dunno if anyone actually was arrested, but the vehicle was impounded. Possibly involved drugs as we all know now that they wouldn't tow a car just for the looting. Lots of cars they could have towed in the past and not one was. Wish I knew who was involved.

Other news from the husband to the wife. He caught a guy in the yard hiding under the huge pepper tree last week, and confronted him. The guy said he was 'watching' the house because Mike (the caretaker and friend) was snooping around, and that Mike had KILLED Frank (the old guy) by hitting him over the head and causing him to have a stroke. HUH? What a story! I'm positive this was a friend of Bad Gal, since Mike is the one who called the police and ambulance when he couldn't get the old guy to open the door (were supposed to go to the casino that day) and saw him lying on the floor. He had been there about 3 days they figure, and was disoriented and threatening to shoot anyone who came in. He had a gun next to him which the police confiscated after BREAKING down the door to get to him. Frank (old guy) never had a stroke, he had a head injury from the fall.

Now I'm pretty sure that Bad Gal is making up another story just to scare poor Mike. He's a gentle soul, has emotional and learning problems from birth, and scares easily and agonizes about every little thing. I'm not going to tell him THIS story about him murdering his best friend. Nope. Was bad enough with the assault stuff from last month when he stupidly took some stray girl home with him from the bar for the night. Her idea. Then she goes to the police. He called me 3 times a day for 2 weeks while this one played out. Bad Gal is really BAD.