Hood News Peeps in Houston’s Oak Forest-area community are raising serious concerns about years of alleged drug activity, theft, trespassing and other reported criminal behavior connected to a property in the 5700 block of Nina Lee Lane. The neighborhood is located near West 43rd Street and Highway 290.
Neighbors say the activity has become bold and that their concerns intensified following a shooting near Antoine Dr and Nina Lee Ln over the weekend. It has not been confirmed whether the shooting was connected to the property.
According to several Peeps I spoke with, HPD officers have previously responded to the property. The house is referred to as a “trap house”. Neighbors state that suspected drug transactions and other illegal activity regularly occur at or near the home. They also claim that a vehicle associated with the property has been used during suspected drug transactions and prostitution-related activity.  If the hood of the car is up, that means they are open for business.
Neighbors also reported that a home for sale in the 5700 block of Nina Lee Lane was burglarized after someone forced open the door and removed a freestanding range. According to a Peep, the appliance was dragged from the home and down the street.
Patio furniture and other property have been stolen from nearby homes. Neighbors also claim that transient individuals have slept beside neighboring properties and defecated alongside homes.
Video reportedly recorded around 3 AM captured individuals appearing to use a power tool to cut an unidentified object. It remains unclear what they were cutting or whether the activity was connected to a reported crime.
Neighbors say the activity becomes especially heavy near the beginning of each month. Several say they have feared retaliation and were previously too frightened to release photographs and videos recorded from their own properties.
Another major concern involves three school-aged children reportedly living at the property. Neighbors say reports have been made to law enforcement, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Houston Public Works, 311, city officials and Wainwright Elementary School. One neighbor also attended five neighborhood meetings in an effort to bring attention to the situation. And nothing has been done.
Despite years of reports and visits from multiple agencies, neighbors say conditions at and around the property have not changed.
An elected official’s office recently acknowledged receiving 10 emails containing photographs related to the property. The office stated that the information would be forwarded to Houston Public Works Code Enforcement and the Houston Police Department’s Differential Response Team within the North Division. The response also noted that HPD records showed previous visits to the address.
The office explained that Code Enforcement may address structural, overgrown vegetation and property-maintenance violations. Concerns involving the children must be reported to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
Approximately 10 neighbors say they are now prepared to stand together publicly after years of feeling intimidated. They are asking officials to review the repeated reports collectively instead of continuing to handle them as isolated complaints.
