Vacant Homes Pose Concerns for Neighbors as Te

EAST DAYTON -- Jennifer Weimer loves her home in the 3300 hundred block of East Third, but a number of vacant homes nearby have her concerned. "People hanging out in the alleys for long periods of time, I have been told they use the bathroom in the yard to the left of my home," said Weimer. And even more concerning is fact that people are entering these homes illegally especially now that it's getting cold. "The home right beside might had a suspicious fire and I have six kids I don't want my home to catch fire because of one next door," said Weimer. Captain Brian Johns of Dayton's east district says he understands Weimer's concerns. "It's a big issue especially today it's snowing in Dayton Ohio. We get calls about illegal occupants or squatters in every neighborhood. We try to do the best we can to work with the community resources to get those folks off the streets on those cold nights and get them into some place warm so they don't have to squat on private property," said Johns. For Weimer, it's all about keeping her family safe. "I don't let my kids out front. My backyard is fenced in and they are only allowed out there if myself or one of my older kids are out there." Weimer said police patrol the area all the time and she does her part too. She told us that if sees something suspicious she yells out to the let the person know she saw them and tells them she just called police and they are on their way.