Posted on 08/17/2023 12:51:54 PM PDT by Red Badger
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas -- Jim Johnson and his wife, Lark, knew something was amiss when a family moved into their Texas cul-de-sac seemingly overnight last week.
"When they show up and immediately rip down the sign of the leasing company or owner company, it's like, that raises a concern," Jim Johnson, who, like most of his neighbors, is an original owner of his home for more than 20 years, said. "And the next move is a locksmith shows up, and that's a concern."
The Johnsons and their neighbors are tight-knit. They knew the management company of the rental home in the neighborhood and immediately called managers. Sure enough, their fears were confirmed. The management company says the new neighbors were not renters but squatters.
"They did have what looked like a very legitimate contract, and because of that, the police had to leave them alone," Lark Johnson, who immediately contacted the Harris County Sheriff's Office, said. "So now it's going through the whole process of the court. We're waiting for them to get their court date and be evicted."
The Johnsons and other neighbors are worried about illicit activity associated with the home. They have kept a constant watch and shared videos with each other on the frequent cars that drive to the home in the overnight hours.
Still, the sheriff's office said there's not much they can do unless an actual crime is committed.
When our sister station, ABC13, visited the home, a young woman opened the door but shut and locked it immediately after they identified themselves. A short time later, the squatters called the sheriff's office. Deputies confirmed the squatters also called a few days ago and complained their neighbor was harassing them by pointing a security camera in their direction.
"What's been frustrating is that I have a 12-year-old and that I don't even let her walk to her best friend's house without watching her," Lark Johnson said. "And we've never had that problem."
The ownership company says it has filed eviction papers, but ABC13's experience covering these squatter stories shows sometimes, it can take six months to a year for the eviction process to work through the court system.
In general, experts tell ABC13 the best option is prevention. They urge homeowners and management companies to post "no trespassing" signs clearly on their property. In addition, experts say homeowners with empty houses should place cameras inside the homes so they can immediately identify people who break in.
The management company for this home told ABC13 over the phone that they have cameras in some of the houses they own but that it's cost prohibitive for them to place cameras in every house up for rent.
VIDEO AT LINK.......................
“Baseball bats..........................”
A baseball bat to a kneecap provides a very strong incentive.
This is Sniffer’s America.
***Still, the sheriff’s office said there’s not much they can do unless an actual crime is committed.***
An actual crime HAS been committed if people are squatting in someone’s home!
I think the Sheriff in our little eastern TN county would be kicking some squatter ass. Not sure, but I think/hope so.
Unfortunately, you go to jail not the squatters.
I’d like to think the same thing here, but I just don’t know.
> They urge homeowners and management companies to post “no trespassing” signs clearly on their property.
A sign. That oughta do it.
A property tax bill only shows you own it. It may not show that you concluded the lease with somebody for the property you owned.
“Unfortunately, you go to jail not the squatters.”
Only if they can prove who did it.
Cameras w/ microphones everywhere...................
And it’s silent and cheap.................
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