HAZLE TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — There is new information in an exclusive I-Team report involving a Luzerne County homeless camp and concerns from residents of a nearby apartment complex.
People who live at a nearby apartment complex say they are dealing with theft and other disturbances connected to the camp and say local officials are not addressing their concerns.
"What do you want to see done here?" asked Mehalshick
"I'd like to see the cops get them out of here because it's too much going on!" answered Jodi Cohan Hazlewood Apartment resident.
We heard that over and over again from residents of the Hazlewood Apartments near Hazleton.
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They say in recent months they have had items stolen from their properties usually overnight and have had to deal with disturbances being caused by the people who live at the homeless camp located in a wooded area near the apartment complex.
"I can understand people being homeless but when you start bothering other people's things that don't belong to you..And taking things then it becomes a problem," says Connie Stephens a a Hazlewood Apartments resident.
The Hazleton Area School District owns the land where the camp is located and is responsible for dealing with the camp. Basically to clear it out, so why hasn't the district taken action?
The I-Team has confirmed that the district was awaiting the end of a state police investigation into human remains found near the camp in late July.
That investigation determined the death was not suspicious by the Hazle Township officials. The governing local jurisdiction tells the I-Team that the district informed the township it will be giving notice to the people at the homeless camp that they have several days to clear out from the property.
It's unclear however what action the school district will take if the camp is not cleared out either way residents we talked with Friday say it's welcome news and they will be waiting and watching
A spokesperson for the company that owns the apartment complex tells the I-team they have increased lighting and added security cameras.
They are also working with state police in response to resident's concerns.
