WATCH: Some Chilliwack residents say a house in their neighbourhood has turned into crime central. Jill Bennett explains what neighbours did to gather proof and protect themselves.
Residents in a Chilliwack neighbourhood say a problem house on their street is spoiling their quality of life.
According to neighbours, the house on Rotary St. has been the scene of constant criminal activity.
“We’ve had to put cameras up here because our neighbourhood has come to be an extreme living zone,” said neighbour Nicole Iezzi.
“There’s really absolutely no reason for our neighbourhood to disintegrate in this manner.”
Neighbour Debbie Walker says she was astounded by the number of visitors to the house, saying she saw more than 160 people enter and leave the residence in a 10-hour span.
Four homes nearby are now for sale. Cory and Elizabeth Hoffman say they’ve had a hard time selling their house because of what takes place across the street.
“Half an hour after a showing we had the police block off the street and storm the house with assault rifles,” said Cory. “We’ve had six squad cars and two ambulances here half an hour before a showing. We’re looking at our watch thinking, are we going to have to cancel the showing? Is there even a point?”
Chilliwack’s mayor says the city received six complaints about the house last year, but only the RCMP can deal with criminal activity.
“That’s why we tell people that you really just have to report them to the RCMP,” said Mayor Sharon Gaetz. “They keep track of every single complaint.”
But Elizabeth Hoffman said that when she recently talked to RCMP about the house, she was told it would be “at least a year if not more before…they might have enough evidence to start doing something.”
RCMP say this is a situation where the community and police have to work together to resolve neighbourhood issues. But neighbours say they are running out of patience and just want the tenants gone.
-with files from Jill Bennett
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