How to report someone (first time, help!)

[Midnight12]

Never done this before but have sort of a clue of what to do.
TL;DR version below

Just found out that my neighbor needs reporting. I DO KNOW that:
Besides herself, there is her daughter and husband and her daughter's kid in that house along with alot of animals.
I do not have visual proof but it is KNOWN by myself, a known coworker and neighbor lady herself that the grandson of NL deals drugs.
Will I need more proof or can i report this now? or do a tip off or something?

All i have is this knowledge and the fact that I see the grandson going in and out alot during the day via walking or rides from people and I am getting tired of it. I don't want a drug dealer in my neighborhood because of my kid and if it escalates to violence and guns I don't want that for anyone here. I have an idea of who or rather where he is dealing to.

Main point: I have proof of word from other people who saw, and what i saw happening but did not see actual drugs handed off nor do I have pictures. Can I still report this to a crime stoppers or tip off or do i need more proof?

this doesn't even begin to cover the animal mistreatment of which i am working on getting proof of.

[draggar]

You can call the animal welfare about the animals. It is anonymous.

As for the drugs, you can go to your local police department and talk to an officer there. Unfortunately, hear-say is not considered evidence.

[drunkenwildmage]

As for the drugs, you can go to your local police department and talk to an officer there. Unfortunately, hear-say is not considered evidence.

true, but it might get them to investigate.

[Treasure]

tip line - "I suspect there is illegal activity, concerning drugs going on at X location" - by stating that it is a suspicion you are stating up front that you don't exactly have proof, but you want it checked out; by calling a Tip line, most of those are kept anonymous so NO ONE will know that you are the person who called; you don't even have to hint that you live in that neighborhood....

[Der Cute]

What you have is hearsay. "I know my neighbors know by word of mouth." Which means you yourself are speculating.
Go and report it, anonymous, but understand if you say "I know by my neighbors telling me" you aren't a really good indicator. You yourself if reporting would get further if you had facts: people coming in more than once an hour, staying for about 15 minutes each. None of those visitors live within a few miles (never seen cars). Enough trash for more than 3 people in the house, where 2 people live.... facts.

[Midnight12]

gawd i must be dumb or something. the last few times i ask for help its over stuff i should know or know what to do. this is more fear than anything as i've not had to "tattle" or report such a thing before.

Animal shelter says i need pictures because of the fact i am not in the city limits so unfortunately that means a little more leniency. working on that. got a few of the poor dogs out in the rain
Called crime stoppers for my area with what little info i did have and they gave me a code so if i get anymore info i can call back and use that reference code.

even if it were just me and my hubs, i would still want to turn them in because i don't want such a thing in my neighborhood, especially now that sis in law comes to visit more often with the nieces. trying to be reasonable, yet there are some people that could bring a gun should the deal go wrong and it could escalate....or worse. thats my fear

[Jester]

Unfortunately, hear-say is not considered evidence.

No, it's not. But the OP is not going into a court of law. She is merely dropping a tip to the cops. For that, you don't need to meet a courtroom standard of evidence. You merely need to report your suspicions and fears to the cops, and either they will act on them or not, depending upon how reliable the cops feel the information is.

For a conviction, you need more solid evidence than hearsay, of course. For the cops to start an investigation, you only need suspicion, which they already have.

[Seshat]

trying to be reasonable,

If they're dealing drugs, reporting them IS being reasonable. Don't feel like a school tattletale.

Sure, there are some things that it's 'neighbourly' to let slide. Like if your Housing Association specifies a particular type of lawn grass, but the neighbour has a different type. Meh: unless it's an invasive weed, who cares?


But drug dealing is not a 'let it slide because it's neighbourly'. Heck, unreasonable noise is valid to complain about!

It IS being neighbourly to report any suspected criminal activity, abuse, neglect, and even hoarding behaviour. (Hoarding behaviour can indicate untreated psychological conditions, and is often a symptom of elder neglect.)

[taxguykarl]

If they're dealing drugs, reporting them IS being reasonable. Don't feel like a school tattletale.

Agreed. Report them. Keep it anonymous, if you're that concerned.

[Midnight12]

I did...the cops are patrolling every hour, that little...bad name kid hasn't gone anywhere today.....
no i will call him what he is, a bastard. cause every time he leaves the house he has to make noise and the last few times it woke daughter up who is not feeling well either
its not enough he has to act and think he is "gangsta" and have his ass handed to him repeatedly he has to continue in his delusions and get others hurt now....

if i were his mother he'd be out. I'd still feel sorry and want to help but not if it risks everyone. found out this morning that he has been kicked out several times and his mother felt sorry for him and LET HIM BACK IN cause he has no where to go. as a parent i would feel that is being heartless if it were over something such as bad behavior. but dealing drugs is a huge difference.

[Blue Ginger]

Good on you for reporting it.

I had a drug house near me. It lasted about 8 months. They weren't the brightest sparks. Their customers would race into the street, stop, honk, seller came out, collected money, went in, drugs came out, cars raced back down street. Lucky none of the houses had small children.

Business was always brisk from Thursday to Sunday. We could have 15 to 25 cars a night. More near public holidays/long weekends.

Neighbour got sick of it, so he started recording number plates of cars. Handed copies to the police. The police then had the place staked for 2 months. The bright sparks never even noticed that the same two cars were always parked a few doors down with people in them.

They got raided when their supplier was delivering a fresh batch. One chopper, two marked divvy vans and the drug squad later, 13 arrests in total.

And we have our quiet street back.

[Eisa]

On the street parallel to my parents' house, the cops busted a crack house several years ago. ....which was basically across the street from the Catholic school. How STUPID can you get?

Definitely worth reporting.

[Midnight12]

just waiting for that fateful bust to go down now
and when that happens i know that very DAY neighbor lady will call crying and if i answer the phone i will tell her too bad so i will pass it on to hubs as he is less harsh of words. she is kind hearted but to the point everyone but her can see its going to bite her back for it because its just...how can i put this.
she was letting her room, and did not do background checks or keep her stuff secure or be suspicious, first person to apply got it. and he ripped her off, did not pay back rent and stole her stuff and was mad when we didn't see anything happening the day he did this yet didn't believe us when we told her he did this, this this this and this. (smoke when no smoking allowed, leave a pit grill burning all night and worse things) so how is it our fault.
this is why i feel bad because she does try to help but doesn't think and always has something to complain about. i told her last time that be thankful she has what she has etc and that only she can fix her problems so either deal with it or stfu. and she complains about the same stuff too

thank you for letting me vent.

[Midnight12]

i love my dad's view on this, what goes on over there stays over there don't stick your nose in it. thats well and good, but what if they being the neighbors bring it to us!?
and by dealing, thats just what they are doing. I keep to myself and its not like I am at the windows all day either watching. But its kind of hard when I am cooking dinner and i see the green truck coming and going repeatedly in one hour....yeah tell me THATS not bringing it over here....

frustrated.
the police doing extra patrol have basically chased the people away and because of that he goes out to them now. so i guess in a way its not here anymore but still...i still feel threatened.

[Jester]

On the street parallel to my parents' house, the cops busted a crack house several years ago. ....which was basically across the street from the Catholic school. How STUPID can you get?

Sounds intelligent to me. A ready supply of customers right across the street. From a business perspective, it is quite bright. Of course, from a legal standpoint, since the legal system has stiffer penalties for dealing drugs near schools or churches, perhaps not the best move.

just waiting for that fateful bust to go down now
and when that happens i know that very DAY neighbor lady will call crying and if i answer the phone i will tell her too bad so i will pass it on to hubs as he is less harsh of words.

Better yet, just don't answer the damn phone.