I have a squatter problem myself. Maybe someone has a suggestion. I'm at my wits end and thinking of just giving up and selling out.

We've evicted them several times but they find a vacant unit and move right back in as soon as I let my guard down. They live like pigs. I've had to clean up after them three times now and I seem powerless to stop them. And their friends and kids are worse.

My attorney is worthless. He won't even serve them. The police say there's nothing they can do, that it's a civil issue. I've tried talking, offered incentives to move out. But they just won't listen.

I've threatened to shoot them. Here in Arizona it is legal to "threaten" to shoot a trespasser, but you can't actually do it. So there's no meat in the law. You can physically remove trespassers but I'm too old for a fight like of this magnitude.

They are harassing my other tenants now and I'm afraid my good tenants are going to move out, if I can't evict them permanently. This is ruining my life.

Can anybody help me?

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God, I hate pigeons!

SimpliSafe alarm with monitoring? We move a system from flip to flip.

Better locks?

Move your stinky cousin in with them?

Seriously, get tight with the police chief. Contributions make a difference.

I got our judge and police chief to talk to each other for their mutual benefit AND for the safety of the community. The police were cluttering up small claims by sending CRIMINAL TRESPASS cases to small claims (civil) and the police wanted a firm policy to enforce. Keep people safe, keep homeless safe from trigger happy vigilantes.

THEY decided (with a little prompting!) the lease became the dividing line between civil vs criminal. If there was a complaint, even from a woman trying to kick out her boyfriend, persons not on the lease can be asked to leave or escorted out. No lease = Criminal trespass, not a civil issue.

Get some folks riled up about homeless squatting in their neighborhoods.

BRAD. I am tight with the police chief we train together. I'm pretty sure though that he'd arrest me if I shot those vile squatters.

Hahahahahaha!

ROFLMAO

Father in law has shot those squatters for years in his barn. Had to put new roof on because of the holes of the misses after years of this behavior

HA HA. You didn't mention burying them in the desert so I wondered what was going on!

Can you find a vicious dog and rehome it in the unit?

"Idk how that dog got in there!?".

Maybe a wild animal? Raccoon?

Maybe something really stinky or mace sprayed in the unit?

Maybe continual loud screeching at odd hours?

Can you remove all the doors?

These people actually have broken in to three different vacant units? Then set up housekeeping?

I don't understand. It is called breaking and entry with criminal tresspass.

Do they break the door frames when they enter?

Ask the police chief why they are allowed by his officers to break and enter into an empty u it? How is that different from breaking into an occupied home? They still broke in!!!

Did they move in overnight and set up shop?

Can you call DFS about the children? Maybe they will move out when DFS comes over?

ROFL - I appreciate all the carefully considered suggestions, and I see a few people did read the entire rant. ;)

Barb, I did ask the Chief if I could have the stake out team waylay them when they are sleeping but he said it was an improper allocation of resources. And yeah, they just showed up again a couple weeks ago without warning. I think they go back to Mexico in the winter because they don't speak the english.

I didn't think about calling child services, but the government just doesn't seem responsive to my problems. And I don't know about breaking up families, the parents seem to take good care of the kids and give them the best nest they can. But they are a protected minority and HUD says we can't discriminate.

Amy, the vicious dog is a good idea, there is no pit bull shortage here. Although they seem to be allergic to cats.

I think hiring a crew of burly guys to intimidate them might be my best bet. But the professionals all want an arm and a leg to run them off. However what I really need is a hitman to take them out permanently. They will need a mask and gloves. Does anybody know where to hire one? I will pay well!

Bwahahahaha! That was priceless!

Robin, I had the same thought!

I know you're kidding, but now that you brought it up, when does trespassing become squatting? If a total stranger breaks into my rental uninvited, for ANY reason, they are trespassing, in my book. Why won't the police arrest these people? I don't get it. If they break in to steal or vandalize, it's trespassing, but if they break in to sleep there and use the shower, all of a sudden they have the same rights as regular tenants, only they don't have to pay rent? And I have to pay an attorney to have them booted? Who made up that stupid rule?

LTD,

Yeah, I figured you were on a first name basis with the chief.

Seems to be one of those problems that is sooo big no one can solve it. It's not directly hurting society, (only the owner!) squatters probably keep a low profile, so they concentrate on other issues.

I'm also guessing the property taxes are not being paid so local govt funds are thin.

I hate the concept of LL registrations but if the police had a real phone number to the owners who care, they could call to verify when someone shows them a lease.

My only real answer: we push to get the vacants rented to avoid overnight homeless using our homes.

BRAD

LTD, I don't think most people actually read your entire post or else they have very poor comprehensions skills.(g)

You need to hire some of those burley thugs, or just

some punk young teens to go over and hang out, make they

uncomfortable. Take some garter snakes over and get them

into the unit some how. They are harmless but will scare the geeheebees out of you.

Wait for them to go out somewhere and get in there and

Steve I believe you are right. ;)

Haha!

Went back to the original post. The punch line is "below" the screen, does not show unless I scroll.

I don't scroll. I hit CONTROL END to jump to the REPLY screen.

And the previous post with the article! A red herring!

Got me!

ROFL! Brad, I was beginning to think you were pulling my leg back. LOL I admit the other serious post gave me the idea. :)

OK, I guess I have to come clean now. We have a two story building with a tile roof and they are getting up under the ridge tiles and a couple places under the eves.

The last straw is now they are trying to roost in the stairway to the upstairs units and pooping on the railing and stairs. Right in front of my vacant unit!

We chase them off and they go next door. Then come back when nobody is around.

I had a fake owl, we named him "Hoot." Just one more place for them to sit. And poop.

We've been turning the roof into a pin cushion with bird spikes. I guess we are going to have to put up ugly netting and foil flutter strips.

And all this has to be done off a 30 foot ladder on tile that is slick as glass. Scary.

HA! Get the police chief to do this! Ya know "Serve and Protect".

The only two things I've heard of that have been effective

1. A speaker that plays birds of prey calls periodically.

2. I heard of a grain facility that actually managed to nest a peregrine falcon on-site.

My goodness!

I read the original post on my phone. I completely missed that these were birds!

Love the falcon idea, but probably not practical.

Plus you've got to get them out before you seal it up.

Is there any kind of trap you can use?

Brian - I've tried the restraining order. They simply refuse to follow and the police say they are out of their jurisdiction, that I should call the Air Force. ;)

I hear you. - Tried filing for a TRO?

A normal successful eviction bans them from coming near your property (a multi?). What's up with that?

Code Enforcement turned out to be a friend, not foe when unknown burglars moved in and stayed. Satisfying the cops with a homemade "receipt" for $ 350 on a piece of paper.

"It's a civil matter" (...)

Contact LLs in your town. We have helped each other over the years. You will repay the favor asap.

Change lawyers.

Try filing a TRO. And Google whether a past eviction comes with a "stay away clause" attached.

Serving the TRO might be tricky.

The problem is the format on a cell phone screen vs having a lap top.

a delicious pigeon pie, roasted pigeon, fried pigeon, rosemary pigeon, pigeon scampi, teriyaki pigeon, bbq pigeon, pigeon soup, pigeon parmesan, grilled pigeon, pigeon enchiladas, smothered pigeon burrito.

I feel a whole new business venture with franchises all across America.

Don't let McDonalds know about them,Or we know what the menu will be in AZ.