It's starting all over! Things have been calm and today (the day before the full moon), the gal who had been cleaning out the old guy's house (he died in November) came over, and said: "You are going to have new neighbors". SHE is moving into the house, with no rights, no legal grounds. She said she had contacted a lawyer and can move in and they will have to legally evict her. She is determined to get something out of the work she did boxing up things and organizing the 'hoard' a bit. She's absolutely nuts!

I thought it was going to be a dull summer, but there she is, bolt cutters, power drill to remove all the boarded up door stuff and new locks all around. It will be only a matter of minutes or hours until we have several police cars swarming the place. I can feel it coming. Amazing the nerve!

Oh joy. Updates when the news happens. Maybe even some pictures of her in handcuffs or better. I jokingly told her that she should be ready to 'assume the position' at the first sign of police. I wasn't really kidding. I can see this turning out badly.

I tried to warn her but of course it's really not my business so I will just watch the fun. She has already cut the locks on the gate and moved her car inside.

More news when things start to heat up. This is gonna be GOOD!

The nerve of some people!I would wait until she gets all her stuff settled and then report her. I got new neighbors you would love! A story for another time.

Ana

What the heck has she been smoking? Suuuuuure... yeah, she talked to a lawyer all right. What an idiot!

Actually Drac, you might be right. This is the same gal who self-medicates on pain pills. She would come over talking just fine, and within 1/2 hour dissolve into a slurred speech and confused state. Not alcohol, just the pills. He friend (the one who was with her today, and might be moving in with her) told me all that stuff.

They have now cut the locks on the gate, moved her vehicle inside and are removing all the boards that the professional security company put on. They said they have new locks and deadbolts for all doors.

The weirdest thing is she said there is a 'secret' passage or tunnel somewhere in the garage???? I'm just flabbergasted. I keep thinking she will come over to 'borrow' some tools (as she and her friends have done several times before). I will NOT loan anything since that will implicate me in this fiasco.

Still watching for police. I'm giddy.

Ana...do tell. I'm all ears!

Oh my gosh....

Well, the original 3 people stayed till 8:30, went out (probably to eat) and came back just before 10pm. Car pulled in the yard and gate was closed. Lights were on in the living room until at least 3am. Cars stayed until 5:30am and were gone at 7:30am according to my partner in crime who has a better view of the place.

As far as we can tell, nobody is there now. At least we see no cars. And the fun part is that they turned off the back yard light (which had been on for months). It was totally dark over there all night.

Guessing that they are there to find that 'hidden' tunnel or passage they think exists under the garage. I'm not so sure it does. Something about a safe (I saw that) and it sits on top of a metal plate, and under that are steps down into some sort of underground something. A bomb shelter? Dunno.

In any case, this is totally illegal, I really think they are looking for 'loot' and will be gone as soon as they find what they want to take.

Gal insists her lawyer told her it's legal to 'squat' there since she has that paper that the old guy signed (and I got a second signature on to be sure it was his), allowing the original 'caretaker' and this gal to be in the house and do whatever they need to get it habitable. She thinks this will protect her against police, etc.

I looked up 'squatter's rights' and found it's legal here in California where it's called 'adverse possession' and states they can live there IF they have paperwork saying they are 'working on the property'. That's exactly what they have. Wow. She did her homework. AND if they assume the taxes for 5 years, without anyone complaining, they could actually OWN the place by law.

Niece of the deceased should be notified, but she doesn't seem to care nor want anyone to bother her. Not my job since I tried when she was here before. She nor any of the family has filed to change the ownership to their name nor filed for probate of the estate. It sits abandoned and full of that hoard of stuff. Someone pays the electric bill since it's still on, but not the trash bill or water bill (shut off). Taxes were paid for this year.

I'll see what the activity is tonight and am hoping one of the other neighbors will call the cops. The gal across the street, that got those two men arrested (after which all the break-ins stopped) would be the best since the police believed her and acted swiftly. Oh, and the squatter gal KNEW the names of the guys who were arrested but pretended not to know them. Nobody else could find out their names. Very curious.

Some people are smart in how they can manipulate the law. And evictions are hard. Amazing!

Ana

Sorta you should write a book!

Soooo I called the guy who used to live with the old man. I call him the 'caretaker'. He's actually a 50 year old, never married, nice guy who lived with the old guy for a few years, but comes from a family that's really really disfunctional. He has a good heart, is totally honest, but is easily scared away and needs 'supervision' and 'advise' in a lot of areas.

He says he knew the gal was moving in, advised her strongly against it, but since he dares not to come near the place for fear of being arrested (it almost happened once due to the 'snake' bully guy) that he can't do much about it. I asked about that 'secret room or tunnel or whatever' and he's says that's an old old rumor from the neighbor kids from probably 40 or more years ago. It doesn't exist. We laughed a ton about the SWAT team possibly attacking or other fun things like me saying I wasn't bailing her out and would tell the cops I don't know her.

He also cleared up the gal's statement to me that the old guy had given his niece (the only one who cared enough to fly out here to try to do something) 17 thousand dollars way back in the beginning of all this to get rid of her. Also not true. He actually gave her 1200 bucks to get a plane ticket home and 'never come back'. Caretaker guy was right there when it happened.

Found out that the gal moving in (and probably stealing whatever she can) says there is a big hole in the living room or bedroom floor. She thinks that thieves were digging for that 'tunnel'. More probably it was rotted out from termites and one of the many Hazmat guys went through it. Weird, but then again, there was that torn off front porch that allowed access under the house and they might have broken through to get in from there after the doors got boarded up..OR...when the final boarding up happened, maybe someone was still inside and had to break out through the floor. Anyone's guess.

So now we sit and wait and watch. I'm positive she and her little band of merry men and women are searching for all the items that will sell at swap meets, etc. They are backing the SUV in to the back steps for easy loading and making a few trips a day out and then back. Fun to watch but can't prove anything, don't want to, would never be able to 'prove' whose stuff they had anyway. The burglars that the police caught red handed, were let go for lack of evidence. No prosecution.

Too bad that this happens. I'd love to see someone really take charge over there, but sadly, it isn't happening. Can hardly wait for tonight to see what new stuff goes on.

Gads, what a mess. It'd be interesting to know where she got the paper saying she had permission to live in the house.

Next we'll be hearing about ghosts in this house. Actually, that would be a welcome addition to the mix... really, really scary ghosts!

Oh Homer, she really doesn't have any legal paperwork saying she can live there. What she has is something with the old guy's signature on it. Unfortunately, it also has MINE. In the throes of all of the drama long ago almost 2 years now, she and the caretaker guy showed up with a manila file folder (covered with car grease and gunk) and it said that the caretaker (who used to live with him) has permission to be in the house or garage or cars, to fix things or box things up to make it pass inspection for social services so that the old guy could come home. SS refused to allow old guy back there until the hoard (a real one) was cleaned. When caretaker showed me the scribbled 'permission' I was very suspicious. So when the old guy came over to see his dog I had him sign it AGAIN in front of me to be sure the signature was really his. It was. So I countersigned under that with the date and affirmed I witnessed it. Didn't want the caretaker guy pulling a fast one and didn't trust his gal pal at all.

Well, a few months later, he and she brought the old guy home for another visit to see the 'progress' of the cleanup and I was there helping get him up and down steps and at that point SHE added her name onto the 'contract'. Old guy initialed it in front of me saying SHE could be there too as long as the caretaker guy approved. After that, old guy never came home and SHE stayed nightly in the house boxing up things. I strongly believe she was also stealing anything that looked like $$$$ in her pocket. He was a 'Master' watch maker/fixer and had credentials to work on Rolex. SHE always mentioned the watches and clocks. She still mentions secret rooms and hidden money. Caretaker guy says not true.

Anyway, things deteriorated, the police were there a ton, she quit doing stuff (no pay, old guy not coming home), break-ins, etc. Now that he's deceased she quoted on last Monday "I'm going to get something for all my work!" and insists her 'lawyer' gave her the go ahead. I'm sure she's just liberating anything that is worth anything and sharing with her friends.

I can't interfere, she would know who 'squealed' nor can my other neighbor who was there when SHE told us she would be living there. We are the only 2 people who really cared about the old guy and his house and things. Caretaker guy lived with him for a few years, was almost like a son, but got scared off by the 'opportunist friend' who called the cops at any hint of caretaker guy being around. No one has the address of the niece who came and tried to sell the place before he died or I'd send an anonymous letter alerting her to someone in the house.

So SHE has been here Monday night till Tuesday morning. Then Tuesday night till Wed morning. Left the house with her friends and hasn't been seen since except for a 15 minute or less appearance yesterday at 4 pm. Have no idea what or why or what's going on now. However, I did tell the caretaker guy about the house now being listed on the tax rolls as 'the Estate of..." when it wasn't before this week. I have been planting info with him knowing it gets to the gal. She might have been scared that someone will appear and 'catch' her. I also told the caretaker that the niece (who lives in S Carolina) might be coming here soon since they have filed 'probate' papers indicated by that 'estate' designation.

Hoping SHE is scared off, only came back for a minute to grab any personal stuff and is gone for good. Time will tell.

And Drac...as for the ghosts. My neighbor and I are actually praying (and told the gal) that the old guy will probably haunt the house. He sure was a disagreeable fellow and I figure he could do that if he wanted. So maybe 'things' have happened? Dunno, I'm laughing actually just thinking about that one.

Watching today all day. If any thing is going to happen, it will be today when nobody is working. Gotta stay home all day and see the fun.

Aha! Thanks to MaG for letting me know how to not stack posts.

Last night, 3 police cars. Fun watching. Not calling anyone else for now and hoping the guy across the street calls the police tonight again. SHE just drove in about an hour ago, with a guy and a DOG! Probably staying the night again. She also went over to the nearest neighbor and had a chat for about 10 minutes. Probably telling lots of lies about why she is there. They are new neighbors, she doesn't know them, nor do I. Would love to have heard what she told them.

So I wrote an email to the Hazmat guy that I got to know very well who cleaned out the spilled Mercury from the house. He knows the gal because SHE spilled it and called Hazmat. She avoided his calls, never showed up except once for Hazmat and they had to constantly reschedule to get in there.

I asked him if he talked to her within the past 2 weeks and let him know that she says HE said it was OK to move in. If he actually said that I'd be amazed. She also told me she went to the police department and they said it was OK. Never knew a police officer who would give approval to commit a crime.

Didn't mean to send the email today to Hazmat, but it got sent by mistake. Darn. I wanted to edit it a bit after thinking overnight. Sigh. Still, it's my last and final effort to alert someone about the stuff going on. I just feel so guilty sitting by, knowing what she's up to. Darn darn. It's like knowing someone is shoplifting and not telling the store.

Now I wait for a reply from Hazmat, while watching the stuff going on tonight. Hope the SWAT team shows up.

I hope they come and do something Sorta. If not, it looks like you have a new neighbor.

Ana

Again, gads, what a mess. I have to wonder with the spill of mercury, if it's even safe to remove anything from the house. Or if these people realize just how poisonous mercury can be. And if the place is as bad as you say, Sorta, how can the Health Department allow anyone to live in such a mess. It really sounds as though in authority have washed their hands of this mess, or don't see it in need of proper attention. Is it going to take an awful event before someone finally steps in and puts the board of education to the seat of understanding?


Edited because I hiccuped while posting.

Ah yes, you have it right, Homer. Everyone around seems to not care about an old guy or an empty house except the crooks. So many police calls there and they do nothing. Last night SHE arrived with that new guy and a dog. I think this is a new boyfriend (the guy not the dog).

Monitored all night and she must be listening to what I say because the light in the living room, which had been on since last Monday and triggered neighbors to call the cops, went off sometime before 3 am. And she and the friend and dog (I hope) are gone now. Neighbor gets up at 4:30 and said they were gone when she got up.

Can hardly wait till she reappears. Always something fun going on and I'm sure she's just looting the place.

Sent the email to the Hazmat guy to see if he really did talk to her last week and 'authorize' her moving in. He's on vacation till Wednesday, so I won't know anything till then. Tick tock, tick tock.

Hazmat responded! Actually the same night I sent the email and he's still on vacation. What a nice guy.

HE did NOT sanction her moving in. She announced it to him and he strongly advised against it for legal and hazardous reasons. He says the house is still not safe to live in and he is working with the old guy's niece (she's resistant) to get in there again and do a total cleanout. I'm hoping he will notify the Niece of what's going on or at least stop by and order her out for 'health reasons'. I think he has the authority. He also sent copies of my email with his response to 2 other Hazmat departments, so this is now a proper notification. I feel better that I've at least done something.

Last night the ante was upped. Gal arrived with her man friend, and another female nobody recognized. After 3 hours, Gal's car drove out (other female driving alone) and was back in 15 minutes. She parked it 'nose in' which they usually don't do. Another car arrived soon after with 2 guys who went inside. At 7 pm ANOTHER truck arrived with 2 more guys. They all left at 9pm except the Gal and her man friend and other female.

So now my suspicions are confirmed. After the other 2 vehicles left, Gal drove her car out, turned it around, BACKED in (usual position) and then 15 minutes later drove out. I can only assume they were 'loading' it with loot again. No other reason to drive out, back in, then leave.

Terrible stuff happening, all we can do is watch, document license plates and descriptions of people and wait.

Maybe it's a blessing in disguise that they are cleaning the place out. Obviously someone needs to empty it so it may as well be them.

Ana

Yep Ana, would be good if they were actually cleaning out the hoard, but they are just 'cleaning out' anything that can be sold for profit. Really not nice, but then nobody really cared about the old guy anyway, including his own family who he distanced himself from long ago.

Things will all work out somehow. I'm just hoping it's with an arrest or two, or Hazmat and the police evicting them, kicking and screaming.

They come at night, leave before dawn and always seem to be loading 'stuff'. It's not trash. Not a bit of trash ever was taken out of the house, or put in the waste cans from the very beginning almost 2 years ago. That's when we all became suspicious of this gal who offered to 'help'. She's helping herself and now several other guys.

It was so calm after the arrests in late December. I guess we all got used to not having to watch the house. Now it's a full time obsession. Can't say it's boring.

I can't believe all this. They are possibly stealing, and possibly contaminated things, and no one with legal authority is stopping it. Burglaries get the attention of law enforcement, but when it's done in the manner you describe, Sorta, no one in law enforcement seems to care. Shoot, if this is going on at night, it may not be to hard for a stake out to catch everyone in the act and put a stop to it.

How much of what is left in the house could possible be worth anything? You would think by now anything of value would be long gone.

Oh loads of stuff is still in there. The gal boxed up all the 'important' stuff long ago before the old guy died. It's all in the garage, deep in a 'mechanic's pit'. She put it there and covered it with all sorts of other non-important junk to protect it. Now she's going through everything methodically and taking what she wants to sell.

Old guy bought stuff at swap meets and yard sales. Collected thousands (yes) of clocks of every type. Some are worth maybe 5 bucks, some hundreds. Lots of antique watches and other watch related stuff. He fixed watches and clock for a living and had a huge (desk sized) tool chest and working area with all the bells and whistles. The tools were like fine surgical instruments, shiny, delicate. Lots of professional cleaning machines and other stuff and that was just ONE of the areas I saw. He also had tons of old books, probably jewelry, guns, lots of vinyl records (some he bought from me) and collectible things. If she sells all that at the swap meet, she might get a tidy profit. There is also furniture in there (antique) that is buried under stuff. Antique dealers would probably pay a pretty penny for that. There is a 1930's stove in the kitchen in great condition. Oh and modern stuff, appliances and gadgets. It's a treasure trove of stuff if you want to brave getting sick from all the 'infectious and hazardous' stuff that Hazmat found.

She's nuts. Pure and simple. AND last night the caretaker guy (who always calls me during Survivor on TV) told me that the gal said, "All the neighbors are OK with me doing this". Huh? I guess we all are just not doing anything about it, except me who contacted Hazmat and he probably (hopefully) will advise the Niece who is handling the estate (not well, but handling).

Oh and also the gal who is the looter, has a guy taking pictures to 'document damages' for her so she won't be blamed for pre-existing things. Stupid. And she says she contacted the Niece several times by phone and now the niece won't answer her calls anymore. I wonder why????

Seems to me it's likely this gal could be looking at a very long vacation at tax payers expense. She'd get three squares a day, never have to worry what she'd do for the day, where she'll sleep, or what she'll ware. And all this could be her's if the right people find out what's going on.

Maybe if someone impressed upon the niece how much MONEY she is losing by allowing the looters to have access to the place. It would be nice to find where some of the stuff is being sold. I wonder if a search on ebay would turn anything up? But considering the intelligence - used loosely - of this individual, I'm sure the local pawn shops would be the dumping ground for most of the items. They all sound too lazy to try to sell it properly.

I agree with both of you Homer and Drac. This gal is bold and brash, but not too bright. I'm thinking she's selling the stuff at the local swap meets (we have a ton around here). She's constantly remarking how much the old guy's clocks are worth. I don't agree since I've seen them, but she seems to think they are worth millions. She didn't appear at all yesterday (first day of local swap meets which go Thursday-Sunday). I expect to see her late tonight to gather up more stuff.

I did some web searching yesterday and think I've found her under 2 different last names which are linked) with restraining orders from bars and restaurants, and numerous evictions, defaults on car loans, etc. I know that she didn't pay her 'tag' fees and the car got towed a few weeks back, but she has it back now after hubby (or ex I dunno) paid the fees. He kicked her out of their rented house and she's been living from here to anywhere since then. Not a stable personality in any case. Misuses prescription pain killers all the time, drinks heavily with that. She's really fun to watch when she's going down down down. Not driving her car now. Everyone else is. Probably lost her license.

Niece is a strange bird. Lives far away, came out here twice, took a few things from the house, and the guy's SUV and that was the last we saw of her. She resists contact from any authority and the only guy who could make her respond was the nice Hazmat guy. She seems to like him better than anyone else. Dunno why she's so hesitant to wrap up this whole thing. Just hire someone to clean out and dump the hoard, sell the house (worth about 300k) and get out of Dodge. Hoping this will happen sooner than later.

In the meantime, it makes for great entertainment.