Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

I live in a very nice area on a cul de sac.

A few months ago, cops raided a house that was selling heroin only a few blocks away.
I figure, it’s everywhere, even nice towns and happy they got them and locked them up.

Just before that, my neighbors house was robbed. They caught a 35+ Year old woman crack/meth/whatever head who had robbed homes in valley stream, amityville, and great neck. She really traveled the island which kind of surprised me. I figured she picked the house maybe due to the drug house close by. She was in the area but picked theirs at random according to cops.

Ok, at the end of the cul de sac is a single mom with 4 grown boys living there, youngest like a jr/sr in high school. There’s always a lot of cars coming and going but I figured it’s kids in college, sports, odd schedules, etc.

Yesterday I noticed shoes hanging in the tree in front of their house. A known drug dealer marker (at least where I grew up). Should I be concerned?

Obviously I have no real evidence but it freaks me out this is a few houses down. Now I wonder if that robbery was linked to the house right next door drug activity.

I have cameras already but it still bothers me to see those shoes hanging. I grew up in a bad area; I thought I was getting away from that. Do you think I’m overthinking the shoes?

Re: Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

Can you call the precinct and have them check it out? Can’t hurt right. I’d be nervous too.

Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

It’s literally EVERYWHERE. Sometimes the nicer areas are worse more money= more problems sometimes. My friends live in smithtown and have a few high schoolers on their street that are known dealers and it has caused a lot of problems in her neighborhood. I saw it once on my street corner and I went BALLISTIC. I mean absolutely ballistic. I took pictures of the cars, license plates and called the police. They two kids saw me and I have NEVER seen it again on my corner. I now have a camera facing that way with a sign on my yard that the property is under survalence. I’m in the port Jeff area.... it’s literally everywhere, but I try and be proactive, be part of the town groups and always keep a watchful eye. If I see it, I report it ASAP and try and give as much detail as I can

Re: Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

Yesterday I noticed shoes hanging in the tree in front of their house. A known drug dealer marker (at least where I grew up). Should I be concerned?


This is not a known drug dealer marker.
Do you really think drug dealers would make an announcement of where they are?

Kids do this everywhere.

I wouldn't be too concerned about it. 4 boys that age have a lot of friends with cars.

Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

I feel like before I started my current job I was very naive about drugs and how rampant they are in Suffolk County. The county is a complete dump filled with drug dealers, drug addicts, and trashy people. No offense to anyone. Nothing surprises me anymore...

Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

I don't think you're being paranoid. Not after the other incidents in your area. It really sucks that nowhere is safe anymore.

Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

i had no idea that was a drug dealer marker... I used to do that all the time as a kid and when my brother and I fought i would tie his shoes together and try to get them stuck on a tree lol

Re: Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

I think you are over thinking the shoes. But I would definitely move without a doubt based everything else.

Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

When the weather was nicer and we would take walks at night I saw some drug deals. I also think the neighbor across the street (young 20’s) sell drugs but they leave and are constantly coming and going. They do have friends come and hang out but they don’t have strange cars coming and going otherwise we would do something (not sure what).

Re: Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

I don’t think you’re paranoid. You absolutely never know and to have it right next door can be dangerous. I would keep an eye out, always lock your cars and doors and keep alarm set. I’m pretty sure if you call cops because of the amount of people coming and going, they won’t really respond to you. But if you notice anything else, I would definitely call. Also see if there’s a neighborhood watch in your town. Or local FB group. Your neighbors may be aware of something you aren’t.
I just found out there’s a “problem house” 1 block from me. It was from the neighborhood watch FB group.

Re: Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

Posted by MsSissy

Yesterday I noticed shoes hanging in the tree in front of their house. A known drug dealer marker (at least where I grew up). Should I be concerned?


This is not a known drug dealer marker.
Do you really think drug dealers would make an announcement of where they are?

Kids do this everywhere.

I wouldn't be too concerned about it. 4 boys that age have a lot of friends with cars.

Re: Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

I get being paranoid and worrying based on the history of robberies but IMO there is no evidence just because a single mom lives with 4 boys and there are cars around. I am a single mom and absolutely hate that judgment. So very wrong of you. MYOB unless you are truly being affected

Re: Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

Posted by jlm2008

Posted by MsSissy

Yesterday I noticed shoes hanging in the tree in front of their house. A known drug dealer marker (at least where I grew up). Should I be concerned?


This is not a known drug dealer marker.
Do you really think drug dealers would make an announcement of where they are?

Kids do this everywhere.

I wouldn't be too concerned about it. 4 boys that age have a lot of friends with cars.

Actually , it absolutely is. Or was at least in NYC and the boroughs growing up in 70's, 80's & 90's. Everybody knew that. It most likely isn't anymore, but that's how dealers let people know they were in the area if you wanted to buy. Remember , there were no cell phones or social media back then. I'm sure they don't need to do it now.

To the OP, I don't think you are paranoid....I lived next to a young kid for awhile who was doing this, cars and people all times of day and night. I would call the police station and voice your concerns.

Re: Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

Posted by Sash

Posted by jlm2008

Posted by MsSissy

Yesterday I noticed shoes hanging in the tree in front of their house. A known drug dealer marker (at least where I grew up). Should I be concerned?


This is not a known drug dealer marker.
Do you really think drug dealers would make an announcement of where they are?

Kids do this everywhere.

I wouldn't be too concerned about it. 4 boys that age have a lot of friends with cars.

Actually , it absolutely is. Or was at least in NYC and the boroughs growing up in 70's, 80's & 90's. Everybody knew that. It most likely isn't anymore, but that's how dealers let people know they were in the area if you wanted to buy. Remember , there were no cell phones or social media back then. I'm sure they don't need to do it now.

To the OP, I don't think you are paranoid....I lived next to a young kid for awhile who was doing this, cars and people all times of day and night. I would call the police station and voice your concerns.

With burner phones and other communications, they would have to be the dumbest drug dealers to be putting up a marker like that which was from the 80s.

Re: Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

Posted by Sash

Posted by jlm2008

Posted by MsSissy

Yesterday I noticed shoes hanging in the tree in front of their house. A known drug dealer marker (at least where I grew up). Should I be concerned?


This is not a known drug dealer marker.
Do you really think drug dealers would make an announcement of where they are?

Kids do this everywhere.

I wouldn't be too concerned about it. 4 boys that age have a lot of friends with cars.

Actually , it absolutely is. Or was at least in NYC and the boroughs growing up in 70's, 80's & 90's. Everybody knew that. It most likely isn't anymore, but that's how dealers let people know they were in the area if you wanted to buy. Remember , there were no cell phones or social media back then. I'm sure they don't need to do it now.

To the OP, I don't think you are paranoid....I lived next to a young kid for awhile who was doing this, cars and people all times of day and night. I would call the police station and voice your concerns.

With burner phones and other communications, they would have to be the dumbest drug dealers to be putting up a marker like that which was from the 80s.

Re: Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

The house across the street from me used to have something similar- it was a blended family- both had a couple grown kids and there were younger kids too. There were ALWAYS cars coming and going and DH and I joked about drugs but thought it was innocent.

Turned out that one of the adult kids was one of the biggest heroin dealers in my county. The woman who lived next door, who I don't know well, is friendly with one of my other neighborhood friends, and she often found the little baggies in her yard (which propelled her to get a fence) and in the street in front of her house. I had no idea- and I don't know what I would have done if I had.

And we had shoes hanging from the nearest wires.

Re: Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers

Your certainly not paranoid. It’s a known drug thing and cops are usually aware of them, but I will say small time drug dealers are the ones hanging shoes, the bigger guys the cops want, aren’t that close to the dealing side.

If they are a new thing, I’d call your local non emergency and just tell them your thoughts and concerns. They may not know about that specific spot.

I’d get cameras and make sure your car doors are always locked and make sure you have an alarm system. But I would also say that to anybody in this day and age, not just bc of that since it could still be a coincidence.

Re: Am I paranoid? Drug Dealers