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Neighbor's kid dealing drugs from their house? What is the best course of action?

Minerva

Minerva

Of the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most
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I have neighbors across the street that we have known now for several years. We are on great terms with the parents and often visit or I help them out with small jobs around the house.
The have a son in his early 20s that has had a chemical dependency problem now for a few year. He has moved back in with them but has not been real successful in finding employment, he suffers from illusions of adequacy.

The other day I was sitting in the dining room looking out the window which faces their house. I saw there son come out of the house and walk to the side (we are both on opposite corner lots) then back across the lawn to the driveway about the time a car rounds the corner and pulls into the drive. He walks to the passenger side and opens the door and sticks his upper body in. Shortly he gets back out of the car and shuts the door and it looks like he is putting a was of cash into his hoodie jacket. The car quickly backs out of the drive and leaves, kid goes right back into the house.

I have a front video cam that caught all of the, the total time of the meeting was less than one minute.

I feel I should make contact with his parents and let them know something maybe up, just unsure if this is the right thing to do and if so how should I handle it?
I have the video clip of the entire event that I can share with them.

Any suggestions?
 
How much is it affecting you?

That determines the amount of effort the situation is worth.
 
Do you have a wife or children living with you?
 
Minerva said:
I have neighbors across the street that we have known now for several years. We are on great terms with the parents and often visit or I help them out with small jobs around the house.
The have a son in his early 20s that has had a chemical dependency problem now for a few year. He has moved back in with them but has not been real successful in finding employment, he suffers from illusions of adequacy.

The other day I was sitting in the dining room looking out the window which faces their house. I saw there son come out of the house and walk to the side (we are both on opposite corner lots) then back across the lawn to the driveway about the time a car rounds the corner and pulls into the drive. He walks to the passenger side and opens the door and sticks his upper body in. Shortly he gets back out of the car and shuts the door and it looks like he is putting a was of cash into his hoodie jacket. The car quickly backs out of the drive and leaves, kid goes right back into the house.

I have a front video cam that caught all of the, the total time of the meeting was less than one minute.

I feel I should make contact with his parents and let them know something maybe up, just unsure if this is the right thing to do and if so how should I handle it?
I have the video clip of the entire event that I can share with them.

Any suggestions?
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If you are on good terms with the parents which it sounds like you are, then discreetly letting them know what you saw, giving them the video, being clear that this is not an accusation and could be nothing, and perhaps saying that you're not intending to take this further but felt an obligation (born out of respect for them) to make them aware, is what I'd do.

Another way to think of it is as follows: if you were in their shoes, would you want to be told? And if so, how?
 
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noonereal said:
This is ABSOLUTELY none of your business. Mind your own business. I can't belive you asked this.
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It's his business. I take the position that if someone deals poison in my neighborhood, that's my business.

That said, whether to get directly involved, and how to get involved may be different matters that need to be evaluated on their own. There's also the question of why one should get involved.

It looks like the OP is motivated by a concern for his neighbor's kid, which is admirable. But interfering with the drug trade is potentially putting his own safety at risk. Someone lighting up a spliff on the porch is one thing. Dealing attracts a thug element that the OP may not be prepared to deal with.
 
Minerva said:
I have neighbors across the street that we have known now for several years. We are on great terms with the parents and often visit or I help them out with small jobs around the house.
The have a son in his early 20s that has had a chemical dependency problem now for a few year. He has moved back in with them but has not been real successful in finding employment, he suffers from illusions of adequacy.

The other day I was sitting in the dining room looking out the window which faces their house. I saw there son come out of the house and walk to the side (we are both on opposite corner lots) then back across the lawn to the driveway about the time a car rounds the corner and pulls into the drive. He walks to the passenger side and opens the door and sticks his upper body in. Shortly he gets back out of the car and shuts the door and it looks like he is putting a was of cash into his hoodie jacket. The car quickly backs out of the drive and leaves, kid goes right back into the house.

I have a front video cam that caught all of the, the total time of the meeting was less than one minute.

I feel I should make contact with his parents and let them know something maybe up, just unsure if this is the right thing to do and if so how should I handle it?
I have the video clip of the entire event that I can share with them.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
If it's only been once, I wouldn't say anything. Hopefully, it was a one-off. If you see it again, then I'd probably say something.
 
Minerva said:
I have neighbors across the street that we have known now for several years. We are on great terms with the parents and often visit or I help them out with small jobs around the house.
The have a son in his early 20s that has had a chemical dependency problem now for a few year. He has moved back in with them but has not been real successful in finding employment, he suffers from illusions of adequacy.

The other day I was sitting in the dining room looking out the window which faces their house. I saw there son come out of the house and walk to the side (we are both on opposite corner lots) then back across the lawn to the driveway about the time a car rounds the corner and pulls into the drive. He walks to the passenger side and opens the door and sticks his upper body in. Shortly he gets back out of the car and shuts the door and it looks like he is putting a was of cash into his hoodie jacket. The car quickly backs out of the drive and leaves, kid goes right back into the house.

I have a front video cam that caught all of the, the total time of the meeting was less than one minute.

I feel I should make contact with his parents and let them know something maybe up, just unsure if this is the right thing to do and if so how should I handle it?
I have the video clip of the entire event that I can share with them.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
I would wait until there was more than an occasional event or until I see people starting to hang out inside the house often. When it gets to that point, I'd alert the police.

On the other hand, if you see evidence of the boy manufacturing meth or whatever, don't wait. Call the police right now.
 
Read the contents and all possible side effects of the can of worms you are thinking of opening.
 
Minerva said:
I have neighbors across the street that we have known now for several years. We are on great terms with the parents and often visit or I help them out with small jobs around the house.
The have a son in his early 20s that has had a chemical dependency problem now for a few year. He has moved back in with them but has not been real successful in finding employment, he suffers from illusions of adequacy.

The other day I was sitting in the dining room looking out the window which faces their house. I saw there son come out of the house and walk to the side (we are both on opposite corner lots) then back across the lawn to the driveway about the time a car rounds the corner and pulls into the drive. He walks to the passenger side and opens the door and sticks his upper body in. Shortly he gets back out of the car and shuts the door and it looks like he is putting a was of cash into his hoodie jacket. The car quickly backs out of the drive and leaves, kid goes right back into the house.

I have a front video cam that caught all of the, the total time of the meeting was less than one minute.

I feel I should make contact with his parents and let them know something maybe up, just unsure if this is the right thing to do and if so how should I handle it?
I have the video clip of the entire event that I can share with them.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
What you have is what you think you saw.

The neighbors kid walked across the yard and spoke to someone in a car, then walked away back to his house. That's what you KNOW.

The rest is what you THINK.

You said the kid has had a chemical dependency. Seems to me more like he's BUYING drugs, not selling.

What else do you know that has cause you to have this suspician?
 
Minerva said:
I have neighbors across the street that we have known now for several years. We are on great terms with the parents and often visit or I help them out with small jobs around the house.
The have a son in his early 20s that has had a chemical dependency problem now for a few year. He has moved back in with them but has not been real successful in finding employment, he suffers from illusions of adequacy.

The other day I was sitting in the dining room looking out the window which faces their house. I saw there son come out of the house and walk to the side (we are both on opposite corner lots) then back across the lawn to the driveway about the time a car rounds the corner and pulls into the drive. He walks to the passenger side and opens the door and sticks his upper body in. Shortly he gets back out of the car and shuts the door and it looks like he is putting a was of cash into his hoodie jacket. The car quickly backs out of the drive and leaves, kid goes right back into the house.

I have a front video cam that caught all of the, the total time of the meeting was less than one minute.

I feel I should make contact with his parents and let them know something maybe up, just unsure if this is the right thing to do and if so how should I handle it?
I have the video clip of the entire event that I can share with them.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
It is your business if you are witnessing what you think you are witnessing. I would go to the parents and talk with them tell them what you have as evidence so they don't think you are making it up. Some parents will protect their kids no matter what they are doing. You don't know for sure so just be careful and patient with the parents. I guess to some a neighbor selling drugs is ok and if he has dependency problems, it ain't weed.
 
Minerva said:
I have neighbors across the street that we have known now for several years. We are on great terms with the parents and often visit or I help them out with small jobs around the house.
The have a son in his early 20s that has had a chemical dependency problem now for a few year. He has moved back in with them but has not been real successful in finding employment, he suffers from illusions of adequacy.

The other day I was sitting in the dining room looking out the window which faces their house. I saw there son come out of the house and walk to the side (we are both on opposite corner lots) then back across the lawn to the driveway about the time a car rounds the corner and pulls into the drive. He walks to the passenger side and opens the door and sticks his upper body in. Shortly he gets back out of the car and shuts the door and it looks like he is putting a was of cash into his hoodie jacket. The car quickly backs out of the drive and leaves, kid goes right back into the house.

I have a front video cam that caught all of the, the total time of the meeting was less than one minute.

I feel I should make contact with his parents and let them know something maybe up, just unsure if this is the right thing to do and if so how should I handle it?
I have the video clip of the entire event that I can share with them.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
You saw this one time? One time? Could be anything. If this is a recurring thing then you may say something. But if it's only the one time, it could be anything. Don't go full Karen until you're sure.
 
noonereal said:
In fact it is not.

If he witnessed a crime, which he did not, then he should call the police.
Click to expand...

If he witnessed someone dealing drugs, that's likely a crime. Agree that we'd need specifics. We weren't there, obviously.
 
multivita-man said:
If he witnessed someone dealing drugs, that's likely a crime. Agree that we'd need specifics. We weren't there, obviously.
Click to expand...

He has no clue what he witnessed according to the post.

You don't make accusations based on a hunch.

If you do, you open yourself up to civil charges.

Dumbass people do this all the time.
 
noonereal said:
He has no clue what he witnessed according to the post.

You don't make accusations based on a hunch.

If you do, you open yourself up to civil charges.

Dumbass people do this all the time.
Click to expand...

"I'm not sure but your son (who has a documented drug problem) looked like he may have been involved with drugs the other night. I don't know, but keep your antennae up."

What civil charges, exactly?
 
StillBallin75 said:
Mind your own damn business.
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That was my first thought...but
if this happens frequently, I'd be inclined to calmly make the parents aware, backing it up with (a) video(s).
Why?
They should be aware of their son's doings and deal with it how they see fit.
They also could get in trouble if, i.e., another neighbor calls the cops.
 
multivita-man said:
"I'm not sure but your son (who has a documented drug problem) looked like he may have been involved with drugs the other night. I don't know, but keep your antennae up."

What civil charges, exactly?
Click to expand...

False accusations.

It would be like profiling someone in a store and assuming they had stolen something because they were black.
 
Lovebug said:
That was my first thought...but
if this happens frequently, I'd be inclined to calmly make the parents aware, backing it up with (a) video(s).
Why?
They should be aware of their son's doings and deal with it how they see fit.
They also could get in trouble if, i.e., another neighbor calls the cops.
Click to expand...
If you were my neighbor id move.
 
Better have a lot more proof than watching someone walk to and from a car to go on before you do anything.

Because this sounds more like a nosy neighbor Karen thing than anything else.
 
Minerva said:
I have neighbors across the street that we have known now for several years. We are on great terms with the parents and often visit or I help them out with small jobs around the house.
The have a son in his early 20s that has had a chemical dependency problem now for a few year. He has moved back in with them but has not been real successful in finding employment, he suffers from illusions of adequacy.

The other day I was sitting in the dining room looking out the window which faces their house. I saw there son come out of the house and walk to the side (we are both on opposite corner lots) then back across the lawn to the driveway about the time a car rounds the corner and pulls into the drive. He walks to the passenger side and opens the door and sticks his upper body in. Shortly he gets back out of the car and shuts the door and it looks like he is putting a was of cash into his hoodie jacket. The car quickly backs out of the drive and leaves, kid goes right back into the house.

I have a front video cam that caught all of the, the total time of the meeting was less than one minute.

I feel I should make contact with his parents and let them know something maybe up, just unsure if this is the right thing to do and if so how should I handle it?
I have the video clip of the entire event that I can share with them.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Join him because selling black market goods may be our only income soon?
 
Could be the parents are in on it, whatever it is.....



......since they live in that house and not across the street, they'd probably already know, right.
 
Some more background perhaps.
The neighbors have asked me to keep an eye on their house when they leave for extended times. They have specifically asked that I take note if a number of cars show up and to contact them if this happens. Their son would be the only one at the house at that time.

Some time back the neighbors had an incident at their house. They came over and asked if I have any video during the time span the incident occurred. I told them that my front camera (as all my cameras were) was aimed to where the field of view ended at the middle of the street between us or along a fence line. They asked if I would mine raising my camera up to capture the front of their house. I repositioned the camera while they viewed the display on my phone. The view now shows the front of their house, with the top of the view ending about midway up their roof and shows the full width of their house. Later they had another incident and I was able to to provide a video with timestamp of the what they asked me for. First incidence was someone coming to their door in the middle of the night, second incidence was a suspected car burglary.

Not only are they aware my camera records their property, they have asked me to do this and have used the video from it in the past when they had issues.
 
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