Law enforcement in Findlay is showing parents how to look for warning signs that are hidden in plain sight.
The Hidden in Plain Sight trailer was set up in the 50 North parking lot to give parents and guardians a peek at what drug paraphernalia could be hiding in their child's room.
"It's kind of like playing a game a little bit," says Beth Baker, Crime Prevention Specialist with the Hancock County Sheriff's Office. "They get to go in and look through the room, think about things that you would normally see in a kid's bedroom or and then see the things that are out of place, too. We have a book in there that looks like we have a great student but it's actually dug out so they could be hiding things in there."
Grandmother Pat Ricketts was surprised at how many every day, ordinary-looking objects may actually double as a secret compartment.
"There were just so many things that you don't even think about like the books and the water bottle was interesting," says Ricketts. "I didn't know they sold such items where you can conceal drugs. I was really shocked because the average grandmother, you don't think of that stuff having drugs in it."
All of the objects featured in the trailer are things easily purchased online or at the stores in the community. While they do have legitimate purposes they can be used for, often they are a sign of drug use.
"It's very common for police officers when they're out on patrol, they're always looking for drug paraphernalia on traffic stops or when they're in a house and all these red flags drug use," says Officer Brian White, a Crime Prevention Officer with the Findlay Police Department. "What we find is drug use typically starts about 13 years old, so you have to have these conversations early on in life and keep an eye on what's going on in their bedrooms, which is the idea of Hidden in Sight."
The trailer will be parked around the community over the next few weeks. Visit the Hancock County Sheriff's Office website for their calendar of events to find out where you can see what may be hidden in plain sight in your home.
