I have told the story of the folks who live across the street (outside) of the Catalina Inn.

You can read it here if you haven't: https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk/comments/16r8c4b/houseless\_vs\_inhouse/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3

But I felt the need to update.

the struggle between the guests and the folks across the street is ongoing. If there's stuff in your car in our parking lot it's theirs. They've been getting free blankets backpacks generators and belongings.

I last let you guys know that they stole a power generator from one of my regulars. They started hitting up gas tanks. someone started tapping gas tanks around 5 am.

This went on for a few weeks every couple of days. Until one night, Some Truck drivers staying with us let me know the folks across the street stole a gas can but what was inside the gas can was transmission fluid. The very next morning the encampment behind the gas station was burned to a crisp. I don't think my regular will be recovering that generator anymore.

There was peace at the Catalina Inn for two days. Two days later they were back set up about 50 feet to the left of where they were set up before.

Sad Face Boy made another appearance this time. At the coffee station again. I chased him out. he returned two days later in the afternoon on Lola's shift. She left to fulfill a guest request and when she returned, he was at the coffee station destroying it. Throwing cups everywhere and opening the hot chocolate packets and throwing them around the lobby. He had a sharp object, and he was holding it up to his neck screaming "I want to k*** myself " Lola called the ambulance. They picked him up but by that night he was back on the corner.

there's a shorter older guy who hangs out around SFB a lot. I think he is the one who is tapping gas cans. After the little pause in activity, he started showing up in the parking lot at night again. My NA, Kelly, has been keeping an eye on him.

One night, she saw him on one of her walks pulling on door handles. Kelly is braver than I am so she yelled at him "hey you can't do that"

He didn't respond with words. Instead, he looked dead at her and leaned into a full sprint and javelined a broken broom handle that had a sharp point on one end at her. I have asked my NA many times if she would prefer to run away with me out of small town and to my home big city. She declines every time.

The cops do not respond to the calls we make about the folks across the street. I had many responses about how we should call the police. We DO call the police. They insist they have a special task force meant to deal with these guys but it consists of one car of two guys that do not show up. Well, we called this time and the detectives didn't call me with questions about the incident until two days later. That task force sure IS special indeed.

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