The house went into foreclosure setting in motion events that would lead to it being used for unsavory purposes. The house had no running water or heat, toilets were backed up and used hypodermic needles were strewn about. Large piles of trash and debris ringed the back of the house
Simard said the investigation of a recent attempted robbery of a Tedeschi's Food Shops store around the corner on South Broadway led police to the house last week. Inside were about 10 people, and a pregnant woman was found hiding in a refrigerator on the second floor.
Simard said Irene O'Callahan of the city's Inspectional Services Department was instrumental in working with the bank that owns the property and the bank's lawyer to shut the house down.
Constable Giovanni Bloise served the notice and posted bright orange signs on the front and back doors warning people to keep out.
Neighbors on the street who did not wish to be identified said they would certainly be able to sleep better with the house shut down.
"It's been going on for about I would say two years," one man said.
He said neighbors had been calling and nothing was being down.
"Sometimes we were frustrated and stopped calling," he said. "I am glad it is over with. I think we will sleep more comfortably now."
Another neighbor said people from the house broke into his home about two months ago and stole two laptop computers and an iPod, and then a week later fired a shot into his garage door and did other acts of vandalism.
He said calls to the police after the break were fruitless because police told him they had no one to come and take fingerprints.
"It was getting worse and worse," he said. "More people were coming."
The neighbors pointed out to Simard another abandoned building around the corner they said people were using as well.