Man Has Been Collecting Junk For Years, Say Residents
DETROIT -- In a west side neighborhood in Detroit, where residents take pride in the colorful landscaping and manicured lawns, lives a man who neighbors said is forced to sleep in his car because his home is jammed from floor to ceiling with junk.Neighbors said they have repeatedly offered to help Thomas McGregor clean his home after he has been collecting things like news, furniture and boxes for the past eight years."Inside is littered with paper and trash, wall to wall," said neighbor Jeanette Sanders.Local 4 found weeds growing more than 8 feet tall in the back yard and piles of junk were visible through one of the front windows."There is stuff on the porch, on top of the vans, it's ridiculous," said a neighbor, who did not want to be identified.Neighbors said they believe McGregor has to sleep in a small space inside one of his two minivans because there is so much stuff crammed inside the home."I don't know if he's aware that what he's doing is not normal," said Sanders.Local 4 found McGregor inside one of his minivans. When asked if there was something he needed help with, McGregor said, "No, don't help me."When asked for a comment, McGregor said, "Just let me be, please and thank you."Neighbors said McGregor is a nice man."He needs some help and a whole lot of help," said neighbor Willis Harris.City leaders told Local 4 they cannot legally do anything about what's going on inside the home because there is no threat to a person or an animal.However, outside is a different story. Environmental inspectors have already issued a dozen tickets to McGregor and just a few last week.He is due to appear in court on next month..." Link & video
