*Squatters have allegedly taken over 1200 homes in Atlanta and terrorized fearful neighbors in the process.
The New York Post reports that a group of squatters transformed an abandoned home in the South Fulton area into an illegal strip club. Four Black males — DeAnthony Maddox, Jeremy Wheat, Kelvin Hall, and Tarahsjay Forde — took over the five-bedroom residence and turned it into a trap house. A SWAT team ultimately went in and arrested the group.
Squatters can identify vacant properties easily using online listings and virtual real estate agents.
It is difficult to evict squatters in Atlanta because of court backlogs and the limited resources of the police, The Post reports.
Neighbors are fearful of going on vacation, and squatters might move right in.
“Is this even America anymore? We are homeowners and we can’t even do anything about trespassers?” one neighbor said, according to The Post.
Here’s from the publication:
Lt. Col. Dahlia Daure said a man with a lengthy criminal history was squatting in her $500,000 Atlanta-area home while she is away on active duty.
She previously told WSB-TV she came home to find a man by the name of Vincent Simon living in her home.
Simon, who has been convicted on gun, drug and theft charges, refused to leave the house.
When Daure reported the unwanted man in her home to cops, they initially told her their hands were tied because it was a “civil matter.” Serving him eviction papers also didn’t help.
“To find out that this person moved into my home right after I got done renovating — it was very aggravating and I was angry,” Daure told Fox.
READ MORE: Squatters Boldly Take Over Maryland Home on Same Day Couple Buys it | WATCH
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