Homeowner Arrested After Trying to Evict Squatters by Changing Locks

A New York woman was arrested Tuesday after confronting a group of squatters who took over her childhood home, leading to neighborhood “vigilantes” turning up at the property to try and evict the trespassers to no avail. ABC 7 first reported the news.

Adele Andaloro had been preparing to sell the two-story home in Flushing, Queens in the wake of her mother’s death several years ago. In February, while the property sat unattended with a “for sale” sign out front, several squatters gained access to the residence and began making home repairs.

It’s unclear how many people are currently residing in the house; but at least two—a man and a woman—have been spotted on the grounds. In New York, squatters can claim rights to the property after staying for 30 consecutive days. Landlords are not allowed to do things like change locks or cut off power or water to residents; evictions must be handled by state housing courts.

“I’m really fearful that these people are going to get away with stealing my home,” Andalaro told ABC. “By the time someone does their investigation, their work, and their job, it will be over 30 days and this man will still be in my home,” she said.

On Tuesday, Andalaro took matters into her own hands. She arrived at the home and changed the locks in an effort to evict the squatters. But in a stunning turn, the uninvited occupants called the police on Andalaro, and she was arrested for changing her own locks.

After she was taken into custody, two “vigilantes” arrived at the house in a pickup truck. “We are looking to get this guy out,” one of the unidentified men said, according to the outlet. “I am here to talk to him. I want to see why he is here.”

A confrontation ensued between the unidentified men and one of the home’s current residents, though it appeared to have no immediate result. The would-be vigilantes soon got back in their truck and vacated the scene. Meanwhile, the squatters inside ordered themselves some food.

The Daily Mail captured photos of a young woman answering the door for a delivery person around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. She claimed to have no idea what all the fuss was about, explaining that she was simply a roommate at the residence.

Andalaro’s neighbors are roundly disgusted at what’s happening on the block where they’ve lived for a number of decades. “It’s disgusting,” one local raged. “I wish I could live rent-free.”

Kosta, a 24-year-old who lives next door to the house in question, revealed that the squatters have apparently been conducting extensive construction. “I heard a drill and saw through my window that they were drilling holes into the wall and putting up boards,” he explained. “I don’t know if the board is still there, but it looked like they were trying to hide what was inside.”

Andalaro did not immediately reply to a request for comment from Men’s Journal. Her story is just one in an alarming series of similar incidents happening across the United States.

A “nightmare Airbnb” guest in California was recently evicted after a marathon legal battle, while another couple in New York is currently trying their hardest to evict a 32-year-old squatter from their dream home.

This is a developing story. Check back later for more information.