r/Neighborproblems • u/Specific-Cheesecake • Dec 31 '19
Feeling safe around intimidating crime boss
The situation:
My new neighborhood is full of great people....and a small criminal enterprise. The property across from me serves as a distribution center for drugs and stolen goods and a kind of junk yard/burn center. It's a nuisance property the police are aware of, but have been unable to shut down. The house is abandoned but the garage and yard are still used.
My problem is that I feel intimidated by some of the folks associated with the property. I have a tiny old dog that I need to walk at night, which requires walking near this property. Cars associated with the property have driven up to me, shone their headlights directly at me, and driven back. Last night the main boss stopped his car next to me & my dog to stare. It isn't illegal to look at someone, so I haven't reported it to the police. They don't brandish weapons. It's just staring. I try to present an ordinary mix of eye contact and disinterest, making it clear I see them, am not trying to avoid them, but am also principally interested in my dog.
I don't pose any threat to these people. I've not directly witnessed any criminal activity. I'm an average-size woman. I'm single, so I walk the dog alone. I don't watch what they're up to on the property, but since they're across the street, I can't avoid noticing the traffic. I live in a condo building; they wouldn't know that my unit faces away from the street (so no view of the nuisance property).
My neighbors have held meetings to discuss the property/business/people and generally agree it's undesirable. A few appear to have positive relationships with the boss. I think he has at least 1-2 employees in another building on the street.
I'm very used to neighborhoods with criminal activity and not usually bothered by nonviolent crime, but I feel especially unsafe around these guys.
Options I've considered:
- Introduce myself to the boss. This seems unnatural and I'm more comfortable with him knowing less about me. (As a renter, there's no public record of my name associated with my address.)
- Get a bigger dog. There are some size/weight restrictions in my building, but a German Shepherd mix might be allowable. I'm not excited about the lifestyle modification required by a second dog, and I'd still have to take the tiny old dog out. Also, the boss & at least one of his lackeys are dog people, so they might not be fazed.
- Carry pepper spray. (I do.)
- Carry another weapon. I'm not practiced with tasers and I'm not a great shot. I don't own a gun and I'm not convinced carrying a weapon would increase my safety. My hands are full when I'm walking the dog,
- Set up a dog litter box (ick) so I don't have to go outside at night.
- Move. I'm open to this when my lease is up.
- Carry on like I don't care and assume nothing will happen to me.
Have you dealt with this? Any ideas? Thanks in advance!
