Squatters take over home while family vacations


Recommended Posts

Tracy Woodard and her family, returned home from a week-long vacation to find evidence that squatters had taken residence in their Barrington, Rhode Island home.

Ms. Woodard told WJAR NBC 10, "The first thing I noticed was the stench, like the house just stunk?It smelled like a combination of mildew and just bad food, and like just flies everywhere, like house flies. Just, it was, it was so disgusting."

As the family explored the rest of their home, they found that the squatters broke doors, left food, wet towels and blankets around, and various items were left in the pool including a knife.

Their drawers had been riffled through, cash and alcohol were missing, and the unwelcome guests even took the liberty of baking cookies. :s

Remnants of tape were left where the squatters apparently draped blankets over the glass doors to keep neighbors from seeing their activity in the house.

Most disturbing was that one of the squatter?s underwear was left on the couch, and used condom wrappers and marijuana were found.

Tracy has had restless nights at home since her vacation. She said, "I haven't slept in three days?It's so disrespectful and it's so violating...You don't realize how, how much you feel violated until you start walking through your house and you don't know what's been touched and what's been used. I mean, has my bed been slept in? Has my toothbrush been used? It's just a horrible, horrible feeling."

Woodard suspects teens are to blame and that they had heard about the family?s vacation from her teenage son.

The Woodard matriarch said, "In my opinion, this should be pursued. Um, I don?t think that kids should not get away with this kind of stuff."

Barrington Police Chief John LaCross said that it?s not conclusive that the wrongdoers are teens, and no arrests have yet been made.

But if the violators are found they will be charged with breaking and entering.

Authorities advise that those going on vacation avoid spreading word, in person and on social networking sites, that their home will be unattended.

source & video

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There have been reports in the UK of peoples houses being taken over whilst away and worse when they get back it takes weeks of court time to evict them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There have been reports in the UK of peoples houses being taken over whilst away and worse when they get back it takes weeks of court time to evict them.

 

In America, we have guns for that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In America, we have guns for that.

In the UK even if we had guns [another topic] then you would face large jail time so still be homeless

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd be royally ###### and report it to the police.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In the UK even if we had guns [another topic] then you would face large jail time so still be homeless

 

We can. Go and apply for your shotgun license, or get a Rifle.  :rofl:

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Its always the teenagers... What is there not a homeless population in Rhode Island?

 

I don't know about where you live, but all the homeless in my area are rather respectful and thankful for anything given to them. Far more respect than one would really expect. Teenagers around here on the other hand...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I usually ask, and pay someone I know and trust to house sit if I need to vacate my house for a week.

 

 

You need to swap your palatial mansion for a castle :D

 

We can. Go and apply for your shotgun license, or get a Rifle.  :rofl:

 

You would be done for assault and probably lose your license at the same time,meanwhile they would still reside in your home whilst you took up residence in a cell.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There have been reports in the UK of peoples houses being taken over whilst away and worse when they get back it takes weeks of court time to evict them.

Actually the law has changed recently, you only need to go through the courts if it is a business property they are squatting in if I remember correctly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually the law has changed recently, you only need to go through the courts if it is a business property they are squatting in if I remember correctly.

 

Yup.

If it's a residential property you can just bust in and kick them out. If it's a business property the courts will send in the heavies for you to remove the squatters and make the premises safe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

if i was in my house in uk and squatters were there id take out my massive army knife from cupboard and stick it through one of there hands, thatll clear em out. and they cant moan cus its free on NHS might even get a bed for the night, could be there lucky day!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You need to swap your palatial mansion for a castle .

lol it's a 5 bed end of terrace house, nothing fancy :p

(4 bed with the front room converted for my disabled parents)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So technically they weren't squatters at all, since they were gone when the home owners came back home. Just trying to get a sensational title.  This was more of a burglary of a dwelling then anything.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In America, we have guns for that.

 

That would be excessive force, however this is clearly something that needs to be sorted through legal means, especially in the UK. Squatting in empty properties is one thing but doing it to a house that is being lived in is as bad as burglary in my opinion.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.