The head of one local neighborhood watch group told News13 people could be in danger because of some woods.The woods, in question, are in Myrtle Beach on S.C. Highway 501 in the 1200 block next to Hudson 501 Auto Sales.
Sharon Boyce, the head of the Maple Street Neighborhood watch said the overgrown area is full of people living in tents and she wants the public to know about it, so maybe something can be done.
Boyce said she doesn’t live next to the area, but she's so close to the area on 501, it concerns her that the ‘tent city’ seems to be thriving in the woods. The area came to her attention one day when she was driving by and saw a fire burning in the area and saw the tents. She filed a complaint with the city of Myrtle Beach, but said spokesman Mark Kruea told her it was county property.
"I want the county to clean up the area because coming into town as a tourist, if I seen that, I would think twice about coming to the city of Myrtle Beach, I would not feel safe," Boyce said.
Lisa Bourcier, Horry County's public information officer told News13 the wooded area is in the county, but it's private property and the county doesn't clear private property.
Horry County Police Sgt. Robert Kegler said officers are aware that the people are in the woods, but they have not been made to leave.
Kegler said officers have responded to fights in the area, but said people cannot be removed unless the police get a complaint from the owner of the property.
There are no trespassing signs posted in the area.
One employee at Hudson 501 Auto Sales told News13 the owner of the property is out of the country, but they've been told the area is going to be cleared.
Boyce said she's been trying to get someone to do something since February and doesn't plan to give up.
"I will see if I can go further, if I can get more people, more neighborhoods, involved.” Boyce said getting as many people involved is key because if one neighborhood has a problem, it affects everybody.
Kegler said the homeless camps have been in that area for at least 10 years.
Bourcier said the county has not been contacted by the owner of the property about clearing any land or removing trespassers.
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