My daughter lives with me and has a bad drug problem. She has started stealing from me, (TV, stereo, money, tools, etc) to pay for her problem. I want to kick her out and change the locks, but the police told me I can't do that. They said it's her legal residence and I must evict her through the courts. Is this true? She is not a minor and she has only lived with me since she lost her job and apartment 6 months ago. She doesn't pay any rent and we have no formal agreement about her length of stay. I think her driver's license address is for my house, simply because she never updated it when she first moved out, years ago. She is using drugs in my home and I'm afraid of her and her friends. What actions can I take to be safe in my own home?

Just kick her out (if she is not a minor).

She's not a minor, but she has a child who also has been living with me. I think she or I can make arrangements for the child. Is her child why the police say I can't kick her out? (I've already tried once) There is a case opened with child services. I want my grandchild to be safe, but I cannot have my daughter living here.

Have survelance cameras installed, explain that copies are being recorded elsewhere. Tell her you got a 30 day free trial, and install fake ones, fake rotating cameras look real enough and cost about 15 bucks at Harbor Freight or other discount places.

I once had a roommate who let a 14 year old stay in her room for a couple of days, my video camera came up missing, I went to friends of the girls house, told them I had contacted the police and all I had to do was see the 14 year old at their house to get a search warrant, I also mentioned that if other stolen goods were discovered, they would probably fall under the warrants power too.
I went home, with in 30 minutes, the girl, my camera and about 5 thugs arrived, she appologized, and they all left.