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Squatters---What Can You Do?Part 3 Of A Multi-Part Series On Squatters4. Secure your windows. This will require them to break in and that’s illegal.5. Check your property frequently. If gone, ask a friend to check on the property.6. If the property is not occupied, place “No Trespassing” signs everywhere.7. Pay your property taxes on time.In a squatting situation:1. Document the squatting. Take pictures of damage, broken entry areas, and interior.2. Take a friend and speak to the squatters; determine the situation.3. Notify police to determine trespass or squatting.4. Remain calm; do not escalate the situation.5. Get professional legal advice. Avoid self- help. Don’t threaten squatters.6. Don’t change the locks; don’t turn off utilities; don’t use force.7. Start the eviction process as soon as possible; serve an eviction notice.8. File an “unlawful detainer,” which is actually a lawsuit for eviction.9. Prepare for court; gather witnesses, documents, and evidence.10. If successful, ask Sheriff to remove squatters after receipt of a Writ of Possession. 11. Check local jurisdiction to determine how to handle property left behind.In summary, I highly recommend a column on this issue published in the July 3, 2023, issue of USA Today newspaper byBy Lou DugganL ast month, Bethan Moorcraft, a writer for “Moneywise,” wrote about a FOX Business interviewof United Handyman Association founder Flash Shelton. Shelton found squatters in his mother’s home.“I called local law enforcement and as soon as they saw there was furniture in the house, they said I had a squatter situation, they had basically no jurisdiction and they couldn’t do anything,” Shelton told Fox Business’ Stuart Varney. “So, I dissected the laws over a weekend and basically figured out that until there’s civil action, the squatters didn’t have any rights, so if I could switch places with them and become the squatter myself, I would assume those squatter rights.”“He had his mom write up a lease for him and got it notarized,” Moorcraft wrote, “he staked out the home early one morning, waiting for the squatters to leave. When they did eventually leave, Shelton entered the property, put up cameras and waited for them to return. Shelton’s scheme worked and the squatters left — but not without putting him in a potentially dangerous situation.”Okay...Squatters have your attention. So...what can you do. There are many interesting stories on the internet about the financial impact squatters have had on homeowners and there are a few comments about how some individuals dealt with them---some legal, some not so legal. Needless to say, these homeowners were angry when faced with a home incursion and little support from the law. However, just be cool and think through the tips below. Protect your house.Based on extensive research the following represents the best preventive measures followed by the legal approach in dealing with squatters.Prevention:1. Install a monitored, motion-detection alarm system that alerts police to a break in. It’s best to catch squatters in the act of breaking in.2. Install cameras that store memory off premises as part of your alarm system.3. Install extra dead bolts in your outside doors. Use the kind that requires a key to unlock on both sides on both sides of the door. This prevents use of the doors if squatters come through a window.Jonathan Turley. Turley is the J.B. & Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University Law School. He states: “The people involved are committing crimes, from breaking and entering to fraud to forgery. Yet, they are rarely prosecuted...Prosecutors and politicians play a critical role in these scams. Local authorities have done little to assist homeowners for a variety of reasons--- from political calculations to negligence. Instead, they force landowners to go into overtaxed housing courts with notoriously slow dockets. It often takes months or years to get an eviction order.”PBy Sally Kalosete Rendon recently retired afterdedicating 21 1⁄2 years of his lifeto working at the Stone Oak location of Costco. During his extensive career at Costco, Pete wore various hats, including roles in marketing, membership, and major sales. Over the years, he built strong connections with many customers, transforming them from acquaintances into friends and even family. Pete genuinely cherished his time at Costco and will deeply miss the customers who had the chance to know him. He expresses immense gratitude for the valuable experiences he gained during his tenure at the company, which will remain with him forever.In addition to his career at Costco, Pete was known for his passionate hobby as a DJ. He had a long-running gig on the famous San Antonio Riverwalk, where he showcased his DJ skills. His music mixes have achieved global recognition, leading to exciting offers to perform in various locations within San Antonio, across Texas, and even throughout the United States.Pete’s decision to retire from Costco was driven by a deeply personal and heartfelt reason. His mother recently celebrated her 87th birthday, and she is facing some health challenges. 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