CRIMINALS HAVE MORE RIGHTS THAN NEIGHBOURHOOD

To the Editor,

I live across the street from 685 Railway Ave., a known drug house, and
although I don't have an answer to this question, my opinion is that the
police should have the power to shut these nuisance houses down.

I have only been in this neighbour for five years, but my boyfriend has
been here for 10-plus and says it has always been a problem but nothing
gets done about it.

Over the last six months it has gotten increasingly worse. We have had
media coverage and although it quieted things down for a while, the problem
is still there.

There is constant speeding traffic which is endangering the lives of the
many children who live on our street. We have had someone walk right into
our house, mistaking our address for the one across the street. I left the
window open in my truck and looked out the window to see some creep leaning
right in, looking for items to steal.

There is always people "tripping" out as well as people injecting drugs
around the area. Needles are littered up and down the street. We have
called the police on several occasions. Although the police do attend, they
tell us it is under surveillance and yet nothing ever happens.

One neighbour has called the police to report that she can see pot plants
being grown in the backyard.

What will it take before something is done? Someone being hit or killed by
the dangerous speeding traffic? Someone to step on one of their used
needles? They need to do something before an innocent person is injured or
killed due to these criminals.

I don't understand why these criminals are getting away with this.

Please tell me why as good-standing people we have to put up with these
criminals, with drugs, weapons and who knows what else, and why do they
seem to have more rights than we do?

Roxanna Hadley,
Nanaimo