Samantha Staub only wanted to keep it in the family.
She grew up at a home on Forest Hills Blvd., and her grandfather had been living there before passing away two years ago. After fighting in probate court for months to win back the home for her family, Staub says, she recently was awarded the home as her grandfather’s only surviving heir.
Staub alleges that several of her father’s acquaintances had been squatting in the home and made it their own for the last two years, letting the home fall into disrepair.
“It has been an absolute nightmare,” Staub says. “I don’t wish what I have gone through on anyone.”
To make matters worse, after winning an eviction and control of the property, someone destroyed the back fence to the home and made away with a washer and dryer set, refrigerator, lawnmower and file cabinet — totaling $3,700 in stolen property and damages.
Police believe thieves found a rear door unlocked, and also found broken rear windows at the home. After winning the eviction, Staub said the home was filled with garbage and debris and had not yet been completely secured.
“Someone broke in and stole all those appliances,” she says.
Dallas Police Sr. Cpl. Tracy Glenn of the Northeast Division says this burglary case is a bit different because evicted people formerly living in the home may be involved.
“There are a few things to consider in this offense,” Glenn says. “There were several large items removed from the property. In most burglaries that occur, the suspects target electronics, jewelry, money, guns and other small items. In this case, the homeowner was deceased, and the house was going to be inherited by the complainant filing the report.”
Glenn says it is a high possibility that the squatters may have stolen the property and also destroyed much of the house.
“The suspects are possibly the residents that were involved in a civil litigation over the house for the last two years,” he says. “There are no witnesses tying them to the offense, but they were known drug addicts who have destroyed the house over the years, and were court-ordered out of the house.”
