Drugs in Housing from a Maintenance Perspective
By Brenda Asbury, RAM

There are many property management companies who experience drug related problems within there housing facilities. At a recent speaking engagement, Brenda McClain Asbury facilitated a presentation which focused on drugs in housing from a maintenance perspective. 

At this meeting, she received feedback from maintenance personnel and together they came up with a list of suggestions property managers can use to assist with the removal of drugs and awareness of drug trafficking:

1. Remove graffiti (new slang term is “tagging”) by calling your non-emergency city hotline.  Graffiti is often a sign of territorial bragging rights.  Removing artist bragging rights as soon as possible can help deter territorial issues.
   
   
2. Partner with local police.  Offer free coffee and donuts to any police officer who would like a place to sit and do reports during office hours. Offer office assistance with fax and copy machine.
   
   
3. Take photos of suspicious activities or people.  (Be careful with this suggestion and do not get harmed -- check entrapment laws in your area about taking pictures without the consent of others).  These photos could serve as evidence in a court case at a later date. Offer them to police officers.
   
   
4. Use the internet by logging on to www.ocsd.org to pull up arrest warrants and police blotters.
   
   
5. Tow abandoned vehicles as soon as possible.
   
   
6. Familiarize yourself with and talk to children and individuals who traffic the area often.
   
   
7. View patterns of behavior in people who are suspected of trafficking drugs. When do they come and go? Whose apartment do they visit and at what time? Make lists and document names, dates, location and activity.
   
   
8. Pre-screen applicants.  Look for patterns of frequent moving.  This may be indicative of drug related issues.
   
   
9. Opt to have the police department set up a sting operation in a vacant unit. Prepare to negotiate damage control and request they leave the name of the apartment community out of the press.
   
   
10. Sometimes drug dealers mark territories by using an old pair of tennis shoes tied together and thrown over power lines. This is the advertising that shows where drugs are sold. Contact utility companies immediately to remove these shoes and do not attempt to scale power lines yourself.

Use these tips at your discretion to help battle drug trafficking in your community.

Brenda (McClain) Asbury, RAM, founded BMA, LLC in 1991 to promote quality training. She is the former national trainer for the largest property management firm in the U.S. She can be reached at 336-632-0909 ,or at TeamAsbury@aol.com.

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