"DEATH TO METH"

"DEATH TO METH"

Danger Signals to watch for: Is a Meth House in your neighborhood?

(Methamphetamines are a COMMUNITY KILLER. Police cannot fight and control this widespread threat to peace and safety without help from YOU. Citizens are the ultimate first line of defense in fighting this killer. Here are a few simple danger signs of a Meth house in your neighborhood. To learn more, visit a citizen-run website on drugs referred to us by Chief Fred Walser, www.leadonamerica.com. It was the source of the below information. It's OUR community, OUR problem. Closing your eyes and pretending the threat real increases the danger.)

TRAFFIC

Vehicles stopping for short stays of 20 minutes or less, just long enough for someone to go in and make a buy.
An inordinate number of vehicles.
Cars left running with someone in the car while another runs inside.
Suspicious vehicles, clean plates on a dirty car, damage consistent with stolen cars like punched locks.
Influxes of increased traffic.
The house has different characteristics when traffic picks up, such as a new light is turned on, or a blind being left partially open, some kind of signal that they have drugs available.

FOOT TRAFFIC

People parking away from the premises and walking in.
Unkempt, disoriented or paranoid visitors or other neighbors.
People carrying in tools or electronics, other items that may be used to sell or trade for drugs.

CHANGE IN CONDITIONS

Accumulations of trash or junk.
Deterioration of the premises or grounds.
Dismantling of vehicles, machinery, or other component items, that are not reassembled. Often the high gives them nervous energy to start projects but they don’t have ability to concentrate enough to put things back together.

CHARACTERISTICS

Garage door never open.
Blinds always closed or windows boarded up.
Chemical containers being brought in/out, or left around the premises.
Drug paraphernalia found in neighborhood.
Lots of 1-5 gallon jugs around the premises.
Chemical or caustic smells emitting from the house or vehicles.
Rough lumber construction being carried inside, people will sometimes build interior rooms to conceal marijuana grow operations.

OCCUPANTS

Diminished hygiene.

Occupants go outside to smoke.

Occupants never leave/don’t work.

Occupant is awake or sleeps for days at a time.

Unattended/neglected pets.

Children not being watched/cared for/not going to school.

Parties.

Lots of young/teenage visitors, especially when the occupants do not have children of that age group.

SURROUNDINGS

Increased crime in the neighborhood, especially crimes of opportunity like vehicle thefts and prowls.
Other neighbors exhibiting unusual behavior, frequenting the drug house, or defending the occupants.