I suspect I'm living near a crystal meth lab

[maggiethecat]

I think the people down the hall run a meth lab. Every day there are fumes coming from their room that smell exactly like AIRPLANE GLUE. Is this a possibility?

My landlady says it has been going on for months. I just moved into this rented room because I am waiting for the house that we rented to become available.

But now I'm paranoid that the fumes might hurt my baby. I don't know if the room I'm in is ventilated enough. I'm three months pregnant. I have lived in this room for one week so far, staying out of the house most of the day.

I have no PROOF that they are manufacturing meth. All I know is the smell of airplane glue is there every day.

scared

[NM_Shooter]

Call your county health inspector to come over for a site visit to your apartment only.  Tell them you are pregnant and concerned about the smell.  Let them know your suspicions.  If they don't come over pdq, send them a letter, and copy the police.

What would it cost for you to bail out of that place and get into another?

-f-

[apaknad]

google tell tale signs of a meth lab and you will find that the smell of airplane glue IS a sign. get out of the apartment(it could explode. this situation cannot be good for anyone as far as health is concerned (esp. unborn baby). if you signed a lease i am almost positive that you cannot be held to it if your concerns are correct. the whole building will be condemned if it is a meth lab down the hall.
please be careful! do not confront the people and you might consider calling police and talking to them for your own safety!! i wish you luck. it would be better to live in your car if you have to.

[BiggKidd]

Please be careful. If its what you suspect its very dangerous to your health. Not to mention it is explosive. From what I have read just a small amount is enough to level a house and the fumes can cause major health problems.

On the other hand if its glue fumes they are dangerous enough too. I know that testors model glue can make some people sick from the smell. Enough glue fumes can be explosive too... You may find its just someone with a modeling hobby. But they will end up with a fried brain if they are closed up in a room with that sh*t.

Good luck
Larry

[considerations]

And Maggie - if you have a cell phone - if you are that close to the suspect site it is wise to NOT discuss it on a cell phone. 

Depending upon the sophistication of the persons involved,  some use "scanners" that can pick up cell phone conversations...and that could alert them that persons nearby are suspicious.  Its not just the fumes that could be dangerous. 

We learned this from our county sheriff's office as we worked with them to eliminate a meth lab out here. 

[peternap]

Maggie, I doubt very much that it is a Meth lab. One of the prime goals of every one I've seen, was to not get caught. They just don't often set up in rooming houses.

It is possible though and since I don't think you or your husband are the type to have a "Time for you to go" conversation with them, I'd recommend talking to someone at the local PD. It's easy enough for them to go take a whiff and knock on the door.

[muldoon]

maggie,

If you feel your not safe there you need to find something else and get out.  Even if it is just modeling addiction, those chemicals are not good for you or the lil one.  More likely it is a chemlab for drugs.  In that case, you would be dealing with criminals who will not care about your safety.  I know many police departments dont even look for methhouses anymore, they just wait until they blow up.  Which they seem to do with some frequency in trailer park towns.  The chemicals used are very explosive, and the zombies doing the work may not be "scientificly scrupulous" in their concoctions as they should be given the risks.  peternap, I disagree with most methlabs being hidden well and well ran organizations.  There are all kinds of desparate people out there, not all of them have their stuff together.  If these druggies were all smart and well orgainzed then their wouldnt be any in jail which is not the case.

I would get out of there before telling the police, and remain anonymous at that.  Trust your instincts (thats why you have them) get yourself safe first.   In the meantime, you can pick up a big box fan from Home depot for a few bucks and put it in the window, might help with ventilation. 

[glenn kangiser]

There was one on one of my well drilling jobsites in the country -- purple fumes coming out of a cooker barrel.  Customer paid me in cash.  Police called later as they had my receipt for the well.  they asked me if I had seen anything - I mentioned the purple fumes - they said  that was a sign.

We had an apartment complex blow up in Fresno a few years back -- some druggers doing something with propane.  Apartments are not meant to be labs in any case -- must be something going on.

Stay safe -- let us know when you can.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Maggie, get out of there as soon as you can.  We had one of the down the street from us blow up several years ago.  There was another one across the street from us (or at least HIGHLY suspect).  When they were "cooking" one of the men would ome out and stomp around the yard with his gun.  It wasn't like the neighbors didn't know what was going on... but there was no local law enforcement, or the sheriff's department was getting a cut of the proceeds.

[glenn kangiser]

Our Sheriff's department used to (they stopped?) run the meth labs here on the Indian reservations and about a year ago the Sheriffs animal control officer was caught (sacrificed by them?) selling meth out of the  Sheriff's animal control truck.

[glenn kangiser]

So, maggie - what' the latest?  How are you doing now?

[apaknad]

well hopefully she is too busy finding somewhere else to live to post right now. we are all pulling for you and your baby M.

[maggiethecat]

We're doing fine, thanks for the concern...things are looking up...I've been really stressed lately but I think this weekend I should have some good news.

--maggie

[glenn kangiser]

That's good -- thanks for the update and I hope things keep improving.