Topic: Dont know what to do! gangs have moved in.

[Goober]

I have about had the last straw. I bought my grandmothers house when she died. The area use to be a great part of the city. When i moved in it was rough but not to to bad. I have been here for 5 years. The past year there has been 3 gangs have moved into the area. And there is a home invasion every day in our neighborhood area. The cops had a cut in the force and went from 12 cops patrolling a day to 1 in the day and 3 at night. Not near enough to take care of it. I have been broken into once so far luckly. My neighbors have been hit 2-3 times in this time period. Today kinda got me thinking about things. I was on the phone with a guy about to go look at his 750 for sale when i hear screaming outside. I asked the guy on the phone to hold a second. Look out the window and there are 3 black males and 3 white females getting into it. Oh and lets not forget a 4 year old and 9 month old out there. I saw one of the guys start beating one of the girls. I picked up my shotgun up and go out side to break it up. (maybe i am ignorant but i am tired of standing by and watching this #$%* happen, and i am not dumb enough to go out and try and break up a fight without something if it went the wrong way, Well maybe i am dumb) Anyways dude and girl are going at it both throwing punches at this point. I yell at them to chill out. They ignore me. So i cocked my shotgun and they stopped. Then the black man started mouthing off at me and approaching me. Then i think he relised i meant business. Grabbed his 9 month old and took off. my neighbors called the cops and they showed up trying to figure out what was happening. And the girl that was just getting beat wouldnt talk to the cops. The cops told her she was dumb for trying to not give them any info. And they took her off and looked for her baby daddy that was beating the #$%* out of her. Sorry so back to the thing at hand. I dont know what the #$%* i should do. I am done with standing by and watching this neighborhood go to #$%*. Do i walk away from my home and take bad credit? Do i put cameras up? Do i put in an alarm system? Putting my house up for sale is out of the question. Property has devalued well under what my loan is for. I just really dont know what to do. Never been in this kind of situation. Have always lived in the suburbs in Nice Neighborhoods. Any suggestions would be nice. Thanks.

[thelowmax]

Unfortunately, it's going to get worse before it get's better. Maybe you could rent it out and move somewhere else. Good luck.

[Kframe]

Tough situation. 
I don't think I'd stay.  Since you got involved in that beating and they know who you are, you are probably a target now.

Either walk away....  or torch it after spraying some graffiti on the side of the house.
Your life is more important than standing your ground against people that don't understand respect, honor or the sanctity of life.
-K

[Goober]

Yeah no chance of it renting either. have been in the middle of remodeling the house for the past few years(very slowly)

[Goober]

Tough situation. 
I don't think I'd stay.  Since you got involved in that beating and they know who you are, you are probably a target now.

Either walk away....  or torch it after spraying some graffiti on the side of the house.
Your life is more important than standing your ground against people that don't understand respect, honor or the sanctity of life.
-K

Yeah, your right. I guess i really shouldnt of stepped up. I just really really am tired of the stuff that has been happening to my area lately. I worked freaking hard to buy my house at the age of 22. I am about to be 27 and after all of my hard work to obtaining my house now because the area has gotten rough i have lost my ass. Its a joke.....I talked to one of the guys after the dude ran off. And he acted like he understood where i was coming from, and was actually cool with me.(have talked to him before in the past) But you could be right. I defiantly made myself out to be a target.

[Gordon]

I feel for you.  My wife and I are in the same situation with our house.  The neighborhood hasn't gotten worse, but it was never all that great to begin with, but our house has gone down in value to about $40K less than what we currently owe.  We have to move because my wife is losing her job at the end of September and the prospects within the company we both work for are dismal in the Denver area. 

We're starting the process of doing a short-sale.  It's not nearly as bad for your credit score as a foreclosure is and the black marks on your record don't last as long.  This is our first house, and it really sucks to lose all of the money we've put into the mortgage and improvements over the last 4 & 1/2 years, but that's how it has to go down. 

Talk to some real estate agents and find one that has a lot of experience with short sales and has a staff that will help you with all of the paperwork and dealing with the bank. 

[cb550fcafe]

Did you see the movie Grand Torino? Sounds like your neighborhood. I would just leave before it gets worse, your life is more important than the thugs running the area down. They'll be dead or in jail and you'll be safe and happy somewhere else.

[bill440cars]

        It's bad enough for those who have already lost their homes, for what ever reason.

        But, to hear from (what we consider) one of our own, to have to go through something like that, is really Heart Breaking! Having not been in your situation, I can still feel your pain and feeling over this. Makes me wish there was something I could do to help out. That is so sad to have been through all that you have and then be faced with that to boot.

[bill440cars]

I feel for you.  My wife and I are in the same situation with our house.  The neighborhood hasn't gotten worse, but it was never all that great to begin with, but our house has gone down in value to about $40K less than what we currently owe.  We have to move because my wife is losing her job at the end of September and the prospects within the company we both work for are dismal in the Denver area. 

We're starting the process of doing a short-sale.  It's not nearly as bad for your credit score as a foreclosure is and the black marks on your record don't last as long.  This is our first house, and it really sucks to lose all of the money we've put into the mortgage and improvements over the last 4 & 1/2 years, but that's how it has to go down. 

Talk to some real estate agents and find one that has a lot of experience with short sales and has a staff that will help you with all of the paperwork and dealing with the bank. 

        Gordon, my Heart goes out to you and your Wife, so sad to have to be in THAT position. You all are in my Prayers and I wish I could help Personally. 

[Pinhead]

Keep the shotgun within arms reach at night. Keep it loaded and ready. I'd also get my conceal-carry license if your state allows. Before you were just any other house. Now they know YOU and will probably send some greenhorn in to rob you (won't do it themselves because they're scared of your shotty). As mentioned, reminds me of Gran Torino.

All of this is at least until you can get the hell outta Dodge. I'd get a CCW regardless.

[BobbyR]

Be vigilant as to your safety and be prepared to move. I worked as both a Loan Officer and a Peace Officer in my lifetime. I hate to say this but there may be no future in where you are. During the boom well heeled Blacks and Whites moved into Harlem and made it upscale. That will probably not happen today.

Consider this, is there any future in the property, either financially as an investment or as a place to raise a family. I hate to tell anyone to shirk their obligations, but in your case it seems the best course. Yes, you will take a credit hit, but you will live through that. I really feel sorry for your situation. Living in a combat zone has no quality of life to it.   

[Frankencake]

Burn it and move to the suburbs.  Keep your #$%* wired tight until then.

[Terry in Australia]

Geez, that really sucks mate. I bought my house 9 years ago and it's more than doubled in value in that time, but I've got a friend in your situation, and he took such a hit when he sold his house that he's still paying for it years after selling it at a loss.

At the same time I agree with those who've suggested that you move, while there are obviously lots of memories in that house, you don't want to become a victim of those arseholes, you're not living in a movie, you're not Clint Eastwood, and at the end of the day, it's only money that you'll lose if you split.

Pay one of the friendlier gang members to burn it down and hope the insurance will cover what you owe. Cheers, Terry.

[333]

I'd get the cameras, especially if you think you've made yourself a target.  Multiple angles.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Yep, lotsa CCTV or wireless cameras hitting every angle, you wanna know where they are coming from when they come.
You are obviously not worried about looking like a stash house at this point so go all out and be ready for everything.

You are gonna want to prep a safe room that is armored with something that bullets can't penetrate through readily- preferably your bedroom where you sleep. That's when they'll creep- at night, that's when I would hit you if I was a banger.

You might want to wire up some trip alarms at points of entry on your property- so you have an idea when somebody is coming.

Hopefully you are the only one living at this house, if not get them out immediately to somewhere safe until you can get out of there.

[kirkn]

...and walk away.  Or at least look into what Gordon says.

The loss of cash is nothing compared to being injured or killed.  And, you're NOT in a Clint Eastwood movie.  No stunt double steps in for you, nobody yells CUT...

Good luck with it all.

Kirk

[flybox1]

get a BFD (Big Fu#*ng Dog).
one that barks loud.

CCTV cameras will just get torn down if they are mounted outdoors.  they get expensive to replace several times a year.  mount them inside.

get motion sensing lights.  really bright ones.  searchlight bright. on all sides of your house.
position them so there are no dark spots.  the light has to cover all walkways.

Get an alarm system.  (i have had one for over 10 years, and work for one of the biggest alarm co's in the world).  arm it even when you are home.  all doors and windows.
no motion detectors.  glassbreak detectors instead (especially if you have a BFD loose in the house)

dont take your gun outside. you will get arrested.

[Duke McDukiedook]

He kinda limited the eventual response of the thug/possible gang member when he pulled a loaded shotty and pumped it in front of his homies and their #$%*es.

If these guys were just random thugs they might leave you alone after this.
If these guys are real gang people they WILL introduce themselves pretty soon, you won't like the results.
  

[tgtint]

Where are you located? 

[TwoTired]

Probably wasn't too smart showing them where a shotgun was available to steal.   

I agree it was the right thing to do trying to keep civility in the neighborhood.  But, you do have to be ready to back it up.  I think I'd keep a handgun or two at the ready, as well as enough ammo to match two or three rounds for each gang member.

Definitely get or make yourself an early warning system, especially if you directly challenged/threatened a gang member.

Ain't free advise great?

[flybox1]

a certain retired CEO of a HUGE computer OS company up here in the PNW has one interesting security system.
a seismic grid burried in the lawn.

sensitive enough that if a bird craps in the yard, they know what square foot to scrub

[Frankencake]

When things get tough and you think you have no one to turn to, turn to this guy:

[Goober]

Where are you located? 

Chattanooga, Tn.


Yea i mean its very possible that i may get "lucky" (use the term loosely) And they might of been random thugs vs one of the 3 gangs that have recently moved into the area. Either way my hand gun is loaded and with me at all times at the moment.

[Jinxracing]

If you plan on staying and doing the vigilante thing, I'd read up on local laws regarding trespassing, self-defense shootings, etc. It sounds like you're hunkering down and preparing for a situation where someone's likely to get killed...it would be good to know that if you survive you're not going to go to prison yourself because of some overlooked loophole.

Any chance you could get a dozen like-minded friends to buy up the remaining houses on that street and clean the place up?

[Goober]

If you plan on staying and doing the vigilante thing, I'd read up on local laws regarding trespassing, self-defense shootings, etc. It sounds like you're hunkering down and preparing for a situation where someone's likely to get killed...it would be good to know that if you survive you're not going to go to prison yourself because of some overlooked loophole.

Any chance you could get a dozen like-minded friends to buy up the remaining houses on that street and clean the place up?

Well i normal am the person to just look the other way. I dont know i just got fed up with all the crap going on here. The Only good thing going on here was 2 of my neighbors that are right here in the same area watch out for my house and i watch out for them. When i got broke into 2 years ago my neighbors saw it happen and called the cops. Got the kid busted. I love my neighbors. But i talked to them yesterday and they told me they are planning on moving out that it has just gotten to become to much. They had someone try and force themselves into there home the other day. Its just gotten dumb out here.