Surely it can't be this easy to squat in somebody's home...

[Eurodriver]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/...210607842.html

As reported by WFLA News Channel 8, strangers broke into the home Sharkey shared with his wife Danielle, changed the locks, then moved in. The squatters, Julio Ortiz and his girlfriend Fatima Cardoso, then refused to leave.

...and of course...

Specialist Sharkey called the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office from Afghanistan to deal with the situation and his wife flew to Florida from Hawaii, where Sharkey is currently stationed. Ms. Sharkey went to the house and had a sheriff’s deputy with her but was unsuccessful in removing the two squatters. Instead, after Ortiz told the deputy that there was a verbal agreement, the deputy told Danielle that it was a civil matter and he could do nothing.

I could think of several ways to remove squatters from my home - none of them involve calling neutered LEOs.

[Whiskey_Bravo]

I could think of several ways to remove squatters from my home - none of them involve calling neutered LEOs.

Agreed. I have seen several stories like this in the last couple of years and it seems way to easy.

[JoshNC]

I believe there were many similar squatting scenarios in FL, where homes went into foreclosure, were essentially abandoned, and squatters moved in. FL really needs to look at its laws with regard to squatters rights.

[markm]

In AZ if you find someone in your house who you DO NOT know. You're cleared for Smoke Checkulation package.

[jet66]

I believe there were many similar squatting scenarios in FL, where homes went into foreclosure, were essentially abandoned, and squatters moved in. FL really needs to look at its laws with regard to squatters rights.

Yep, they suck. A friend is an HOA president here in FL, and they had an owner of a home living in Peru that hadn't been paying their dues, and they could not be reached. The tenants in the home had a very vague lease, it appeared that it was assembled using info on the owners that was easily obtainable using public records. It didn't state to whom the rent was being paid to, and when asked about it, the answer was a look of 'I don't know.' The rules of the HOA made it possible for them to put a lien on the home and then start the eviction process. (I don't know how long that took.) Fortunately, the squatters moved out under cover of darkness before things got too far along in the process. It's suspected that this is what they do 'professionally;' find homes owned by people who live out of state or are in foreclosure, and then squat until the jig is up, finding a new place/victim when it looks like they will be kicked out of their current digs.

[Eurodriver]

Smoke checkulation packages are legal in Florida too, which is exactly why I don't understand how it got to be such a big issue.

Go into your home.
Draw down on home invaders.
Let them make the decision to leave while still ambulatory.

[Moose-Knuckle]

Nothing quit says get the **** out of my house like a chest full of 00 buckshot.

[Campbell]

In AZ if you find someone in your house who you DO NOT know. You're cleared for Smoke Checkulation package.

[C-grunt]

Ive run into this pretty often as a LEO. There is a quasi legal term called "standing" when it comes to property. Basically it means that someone has established residence in a home. Its supposed to be used to keep people from kicking out residents on a moments notice. Once a person has developed standing in the residence the police are not going to remove them. Only way, at least here in Az, to get them out is an eviction or a restraining order.

This applies to sub leases as well. That's why I always tell people to be very wary of who you let stay with you.

[Eurodriver]

Ive run into this pretty often as a LEO. There is a quasi legal term called "standing" when it comes to property. Basically it means that someone has established residence in a home. Its supposed to be used to keep people from kicking out residents on a moments notice. Once a person has developed standing in the residence the police are not going to remove them. Only way, at least here in Az, to get them out is an eviction or a restraining order.

This applies to sub leases as well. That's why I always tell people to be very wary of who you let stay with you.

Again, it really can't be that easy, can it? What's to stop me from breaking into your house while you're on a vacation (or even out for breakfast with your family on Saturday) and posting up? I'll move my furniture in, change the locks, and my dog will be there too. When you show up I'll just call 911 and tell them that you're threatening me and produce my fake lease I made using tax records.

What would you do?