A Chicago woman says a stranger moved into her vacant Chatham property and is refusing to leave, and police say they can't do anything about it.
Danielle Cruz said she was proud when she bought this home, and prouder still after renovating it. She was excited to sell it. But a stranger moved right in, and when she called police they told her there wasn't much they can do."It just brings back nothing but bad energy for me," she said.
Cruz said the woman said she saw an ad for the home online, signed a month-to-month lease with a so-called landlord, and paid $8,000 up front. "No one wants to come back and someone is living in a property," said Quintara Smith, neighbor."It's frightening. I mean, that can happen to anybody." "So, generally speaking, squatters have to figure out way to show some sort of residency," Dadkhah said."So I've heard a variety of stories, forged leases with the landlord's name. I've seen forged leases with realtors' names."
"And although it's a difficult pill to swallow to give money to somebody who is unlawfully in your property and refusing to leave, you have to think that $1,000 or $2,000, or whatever that number is that makes them leave is less expensive in the long run," Dadkhah said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Chicago shootings: 14 shot, 1 fatally in weekend violence, police sayChicago weekend shootings have left at least 14 shot, one fatally, police said.
Read more »
Burglar assaulted woman after breaking into her central Pa. home, police sayThe woman told police he climbed into her home through an unlocked window Monday morning.
Read more »
3-year-old girl shot while inside her home, Chicago police investigatingThe child suffered a graze wound and had been listed in good condition, police said.
Read more »