How to Tell if Your Neighbor's a Drug Dealer

The thing about drug operations is they can be set up anywhere, anytime.

And occasionally, it's not just police officers who work to find the bad guys. It may all boil down to a tip given by an observant resident.

Here are some things to watch for regarding suspicious neighborhood drug activity, according to Twinsburg Police Chief Chris Noga:

Know thy neighbor: "When you take the time to know them, sometimes what can be suspicious behavior, really isn't," Noga said.

It's easy to think that when something is out of the ordinary, something illegal can be happening. Perhaps your neighbors are just weird.

Watch the traffic: "When you see a bunch of traffic in the area at all hours," Noga said, something is probably fishy.

Be on the look out for different cars, going in and out of the house, especially if people aren't staying for long periods of time, he added.

Some people are just mean: "If you try to be friendly and they don't want to talk to you, they could just be grumpy," Noga said. 

Just because your neighbor seems like they're shifty or hiding something, doesn't mean their dealing drugs out of their house. However, it's always better to be safe. 

Noga said that anyone can alert police if they are worried about a possible drug dealer in their area.

"Obviously, if you see something that looks weird, give us a call," he said.

Most of TPD's drug busts come from traffic stops Noga said. However, some do come from tips by anonymous sources, like a pot dealer who was busted after a lengthy investigation this summer.

Here are other helpful tips from a similar story on Cuyahoga Falls Patch:

• Finding drugs or drug paraphernalia (syringes, pipes, baggies, etc.) in the area.
• Repeated, observable exchanges of items, especially where money is visible.
• Noxious odors coming from around the houses or buildings, such as “musty” or chemical smells.
• Houses or buildings where extreme security measures seem to have been taken.
• Houses or buildings where no owner or tenant is apparent, and no home activities — yard work, painting, maintenance, etc. — seem to go on.

Anyone suspecting drug activity should contact the Twinsburg Police dispatch center at (330) 425-1234.

Editor's note: Cuyahoga Falls Editor John Deike contributed to this report.