Medford, Ore., — “You can see they have packed boxes, and were just gonna take stuff.”
While the owners of this home on Aerial Heights Drive in Medford were enjoying a carefree, family get away for the last month – their empty home was being taken over by intruders.
“When they find a place, they squat at it, party at it, and start stealing things.”
As they were thousands of miles away, the homeowner says thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of belongings, trashed the house, and even tried to get into a thousand pound safe filled with valuables.
“Probably you know, $30-40,000 in jewelry.”
Even before the homeowner cut his vacation short, he knew something was wrong.
“I noticed that my utility bills were higher than they should be and there was a lock, you know a chain padlock on the gate.”
When a maintenance worker showed up to check out the house, he found the squatters.
The worker called police, as the homeowner booked a flight home.
When he arrived Tuesday morning, he found two people still there.
“I asked them who they were, and they said oh we were hired to come clean the place off craigslist. And I said, ok, and then I called 911.”
Medford Police have arrested a three people in connection with the crime, but are still investigating.
Police told the owner not to sleep in his house, as more people will likely come.
The owner says he feels violated…
“When I heard that they found a guy sleeping on my bed, that made me ugh don’t want to sleep on that bed again.”
Now, he has a warning for others….
“I think everyone should get an alarm in their house. At least if someone breaks in, police will be there in about 5-10 minutes.”
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