There’s only so much you can take when the home you worked so hard for no longer feels safe.

For one couple, that point came after watching their longtime neighbor’s life fall apart over the past few years.

These days, different people are constantly staying at the house, and police are called several times a week over the activity there.

They’ve reported the problems to just about everyone they can think of, but authorities say building a case takes time.

Then, after seeing what looked like a gun being exchanged outside, their fear reached a whole new level.

Read on to see what happened next.

Running out of options

My fiancé and I moved away from our heavily populated metropolitan area about 10 years ago in search of a quieter, slower-paced life.

Our home was built in 1890, and we’ve been slowly renovating it into the home we’ve always dreamed of.

On the day we signed the paperwork, our new neighbor introduced themselves. They were an attractive single parent with a highly respectable career.

Sadly, the woman has declined over the last several years.

Over the last 3–4 years, we’ve watched our neighbor steadily decline due to drug use. It’s the kind of decline where they’re either slumped over or constantly jittery and picking at invisible scabs. My neighbor lost their career, their children, and nearly everything else except the house.

Here’s my issue: My neighbor is allowing homeless individuals, current and former convicts, whichever boyfriend of the month (if he’s not already in jail), and various “friends” to stay inside the house and now even outside in tents.

There are multiple calls each week to local LE regarding active drug use, suspected drug transactions, property maintenance violations, noise complaints, assaults, and other disturbances. Our surrounding neighbors are also reporting these incidents.

They’ve called just about every official you can call locally.

We’ve spoken with local LE officers, chiefs, sergeants, and detectives. We’ve also spoken with the town warden, the local mayor, the sheriff’s office, and the state police. We’ve even had U.S. Marshals knock on our door asking about activity next door. Code Enforcement and the Fire Dept. have also been involved. They all know it’s a trap house.

At this point, I’m considering writing to my state representative and even the governor to ask for help.

LE has instructed us to continue reporting anything suspicious. However, I’m at my wits’ end.

Now, they’re concerned for their safety.

Last night, I heard a lot of commotion and looked out the window to see two of my neighbor’s friends exchange what appeared to be a firearm. We immediately called it in, and officers later confirmed it was a pellet gun. Even so, we’re now genuinely afraid for our safety.

We’re taking additional security measures on top of those we already have. We’re also publicly known supporters of 2A.

We document everything. LE has told us they’re building a case, but it will take time because my neighbor owns the property.

Now, they’re not sure what to do.

My neighbor also receives DSS assistance. We’ve been told that after a certain number of violations or calls for service, the property may be declared a public nuisance, which could allow authorities to remove the occupants.

Unfortunately, I have a mortgage on my home, and while I pray we’ll eventually be able to move away from this situation, it’s simply not financially possible right now.

What other measures can be taken? Is there anything else I can do to help get this situation resolved? I’m open to any suggestions that I haven’t already tried.

Yikes! Living next to someone like that sounds like a nightmare.

Let’s see if the readers over at Reddit have any advice they can offer.

Yes, it may be worth checking into.

This would be an option.

No, they shouldn’t.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about neighbors who have to set a firm boundary with neighbors who ask too many child-related favors.

It does sound like they’ve done just about everything.

They really do sound like they’re running out of options.

They’ve already contacted just about every agency that could possibly help, and nothing seems to be moving fast enough.

The fact that police say they’re building a case is at least something, but that doesn’t make living next door any less stressful.

For now, they may have to keep documenting everything and hope all of those reports finally force someone to act.