PUSH COMES TO SHOVE

OSOYOOS -- They call themselves "The United and Angry Residents of Harbour
Key Drive," and the Osoyoos neighbours are reclaiming the street as their own

"We have had enough," said Dianne Mykyte. "We have decided we are fed up,
and we aren't going to take it anymore." Last week, the RCMP raided a home
at the end of the deadend street and found a small amount of cocaine

Mykyte said it isn't the first time. Major drug activity is suspected in
the home, and the residents want it to stop

"Osoyoos is growing," she said, pointing at the resulting increase in the
drug trade. "We've got stabbings, shootings -- and this little
neighbourhood has said, 'We've had enough.'" Osoyoos Staff Sgt. Walt
Makepeace agrees there is a problem in the neighbourhood

"The vehicles are noted to be at the residence for a very short time, and
that is indicative of drug trafficking or criminal activity," Makepeace said

Police have searched the home twice during the past five months. Charges
are pending, but the business hasn't stopped

A previous search was conducted last February with the assistance of a
Canada Border Services Agency dog team. It turned up a substantial amount
of drug-trafficking paraphernalia, cocaine and surveillance equipment

"They've been released, and it doesn't seem to have slowed them down,"
Makepeace said

Recently, there has been an increase of theft on the street. Convertible
tops have been slashed, and a truck has been stolen. Mykyte said it is time
to pull out the stops

"We have had it. One of our neighbourhood residents arranged a meeting last
Wednesday," she said

About 30 neighbours attended, along with Makepeace. They came up with a
plan of action. "We are trying to make it hot for the traffic. What we are
trying to do is eliminate the customer," said Mykyte.

They have enlisted the help of town hall, which sent work crews to clean up
brush that was offering the home too much privacy. They have posted signs
saying they will not tolerate the drug trade in their neighbourhood.

"We are recording the licence plate numbers (of those who drive down the
street)," she said.

They will collate the numbers and turn them over to RCMP.

One of the neighbours routinely wakes each night at 2 a.m. That's become
his shift -- now, he watches out his window and reports what he sees.

"They are like rats," Mykyte said about those dealing drugs. "They don't
like having the light shone on them."

The group isn't being secretive about its observations.

"This morning, I wrote down a guy's licence number. We made sure he saw I
was writing it down."

The RCMP have committed to following up on all complaints from the
residents, and Makepeace said they are taking it seriously with regular and
frequent patrols.

The neighbours have discussed their concerns about retribution and have
decided to take action anyway.

"You can not put your head in the sand and hope they go away," Mykyte said.
"No white knight is going to come down the street to help. We feel like
prisoners here, and we are not going to give up."

Makepeace admits the neighbours may face consequences over their
involvement, but he points out there are already consequences coming from
the situation.

"I am 100 per cent behind the neighbourhood. It's simply them taking the
street back," Makepeace said. "They are simply fed up with this going on
under their noses."