Cabin break in...meth!

[Monkster]

For the second year in a row, a friend's cabin we stay at for rifle hunting in Pine County was broken into. It appears as though they make their meth and leave. Of course, steal a few things (ladder stand, hanging stand, lawn mower battery, rugs???). Pine County sherrif came out (nice guy!), took pics and also some cig butts that were left. Didn't quite ruin next weekend, but definitely made it less enjoyable!

Anyone else have that experience at their cabins?

[RiverFish]

Are you guys sure it is safe for you to be there, chemicals can be on the walls, floors, every where.

I just watched a construction show where they had to have the walls/paint tested for meth before they could start renovating.

[Monkster]

The owner is checking on that right now. We had the same thoughts since my two boys, ages 11 and 14 are going up there also next weekend.

[Harmonica Bear]

Same thing happened to a freind of mine'd place in Brainerd

[nonteepical]

hide a trail camera where you can get liscence plates or pics of the drug addics. use a ir camera and one where batteries last a year. i hid one on my drive when they are exiting my property, amazing how many people go onto your property.

[jerkbait]

Our cabin was broken into a couple of years ago. Dead of winter. The hint to go and check it was a $400 electric bill since the window was busted out and the heat was running non stop. They took a bunch of deifferent items, TV, pressure washer, air compresser and a bunch of odd stuff. It sucks that there are people out there like that. Hope you are able to stay there this weekend.

[uptracker]

Are you guys sure it is safe for you to be there, chemicals can be on the walls, floors, every where.

I just watched a construction show where they had to have the walls/paint tested for meth before they could start renovating.

Yup...I'd be really nervous even stepping foot in there....actually, I wouldn't step foot in there.

[Monkster]

Everything i have been reading on line says it is difficult to test the walls, floor, etc. for chemical residue. It also looks like since it was used once (from the evidence per sheriff - couple cig butts and not a HUGE mess) the chemical may be minimal. What do you do, tear it down?

I am thinking we should pull a camper up there...

[mrklean]

i would stay in a camper, if its a small cabin with nothing to it burn it down and start from scratch, meth is scary stuff

[RiverFish]

On the renovation show I was watching it looked like they basically used a piece of sandpaper/cloth and rubbed the walls. They were wearing face masks when they did this. Then they put the sandpaper/cloth in a bag and sent it out to be tested.

They did not say how much it cost or how long it took for results.

[bogwalker]

Monkster, Are you certain they made meth there?

[Monkster]

Ok, that's a good question now that I have talked to a few others in law enforcement. I only stepped in the cabin for a moment because my boys were there. Here is what the owners son found, cooking pans in sink, pans were turned upside down, appeared clean. Oven mitt that didn't belong in cabin. A lot of wood used in wood stove (can you make meth on a good wood stove?). Windows were NOT open when we drove up to cabin, which is usually a giveaway it sounds like per law enforcement that meth was cooked. Extension cord was run into a window, the generator that is usually up there was taken home the last time they were up there, luckily! The sheriff that was there didn't really say yes or no, so maybe not???

[bogwalker]

If they used a wood stove the cabin would no longer be there.

[RiverFish]

Monkster, Are you certain they made meth there?

I think the question is, are you certain they did not.

I would be very hesitant to spend time in the cabin let alone sleep there for a weekend with kids. As they say, better safe than sorry.

[bogwalker]

So if your cabin was broken into you would abandon it? I have heard nothing to lead me to believe meth was made there. Dishes were washed and turned upside down to dry in the sink? Does not fit.

[Monkster]

Bog, just unsafe with the wood stove, or are the chemicals are too volatile?

[Farley]

A buddys cabin and his neighbors have been broken into twice, Clearwater lake in Annandale. one time the vandals broke every piece of glass in the cabin. Even the glass windows on the wood stove. They found a meth lab right down the road in a fish house. They broke into the cabins because they were all tweaked out with nothing to do. Dont know if they ever arrested anyone.

[RiverFish]

So if your cabin was broken into you would abandon it? I have heard nothing to lead me to believe meth was made there. Dishes were washed and turned upside down to dry in the sink? Does not fit.

I didn't say I would abandon the cabin. My point is I would be very careful.

[bogwalker]

Bog, just unsafe with the wood stove, or are the chemicals are too volatile?

Meth is highly flammable.The first thing you would probably notice in the cabin would be the odor. If the investigating officer suspected this was used as a lab, he would not enter the building. You could contact him and ask if he suspected this was a lab. It does not sound like it to me based upon what you said so far.

[Double D]

We don'e leave much in our cabin, of course in late September a meth addict had to break in anyhow. Contacted the sheriff, the guy was already in jail, he had broken into several cabins in the area. Got about half of the stuff back. Lesson learned: don't leave stuff in the cabin that you don't want stolen.

DD

[gurkster]

I had my cabin in Northern Pine County broken into also (Nickerson area). It was a guy and a girl, as I walked in on them. They were there for a little "private time" so no real damage. I leave mine unlocked just to keep the damage minimal. Seems to work. I have found cig butts, beer cans, etc other times. It seems it is used as a party house at times.

In your case, IMO if you have access to a camper I would use it. No reason to stress and worry about the what ifs then. If not, call the sherrif and get his opinion of what happened. I am sure he has the experience to tell if it was a meth house. I am sure he sees many in his rural areas. I wouldn't take chances especially with the kids. Meth is bad stuff.

[ozzie]

doesn't sound like a meth problem...sounds like some people using the place and some things to have a little hang out. If it were a meth deal then I would say the dishes would not have been picked up and cleaned and they would not use a wood stove to cook on.

[Monkster]

The more I read and hear about it it sort of seems that way...luckily!

Thanks for all the responses!

[Ufatz]

Boy.....you're sure cool and controlled about it. The weasels would still be cleaning up the blood splatters if most of the people around me found somebody in their cabin.

Not sayin' I'm exactly like that.

[nonteepical]

i've had fire training on meth labs and they always said the MPCA had to be called in to clean all labs up, big or small, so i would think the Pine County Sheriff would have called if they suspected it. go hunting and have fun.