Shocking moment NYC homeowner is put in handcuffs and shameless SQUATTERS are ... trends now
A New York City woman was arrested after a heated confrontation with a squatter who claimed he had the rights to live in her million-dollar family home.
Adele Andaloro, 47, inherited property on a quiet street in Flushing, Queens. She planned to sell it, but then noticed someone had replaced the front door and changed the locks.
She was surprised to learn that squatters had moved in last month and refused to leave.
'It's enraging. It really is,' Andaloro told ABC7 New York. 'It's not fair that I, as the homeowner, have to be going through this.'
In New York State, squatters who occupy a property openly and adversely for 10 uninterrupted years can make an adverse possession claim, provided they have paid property taxes over that decade.
In New York City, however, squatters are granted rights after just 30 days, meaning landlords must start an eviction proceeding as soon as a squatter has been discovered.
Adele Andaloro, 47, inherited her family's property in Flushing, Queens and was hoping to sell it - but was stopped dead in her tracks when squatters moved in last month
The strangers had changed the locks and replaced the front door. In New York City, 'squatter's rights' are granted after just 30 days of occupancy
Andaloro entered the home, flanked by reporters, after an unidentified woman unlocked the door. Inside, she was greeted by two men who were ultimately led away by police
'By the time that someone does the investigation...it will be well over 30 days and that man will have stolen my house,' Andaloro said.
As she and her daughter spoke with reporter Dan Krauth outside, a woman passed by and unlocked the front door. She left upon seeing the cameras - meaning Andaloro was free to enter with property deed in hand.
'This is proving everything I said, this is my furniture, these are my curtains,' she said, pointing.
As she ventured further inside, she found two men, including one asleep in a bedroom. One of the men claimed to have moved in two days earlier.
Then they called the police on her.
'They've called the police on me and I've called the locksmith,' Andaloro said, exasperated. 'We didn't come in illegally, the door was open.'
Police arrived and began interviewing the men. When asked to show documentation showing they had been there for more than 30 days, the men were unable to provide proof.
The man who claimed to have moved in two days earlier was taken into custody while police escorted the other man as he lugged a suitcase down the street. Andaloro called a locksmith.
Minutes after police left, another man identified as Brian Rodriguez (pictured) shoved his way inside, accompanied by one of the squatters who had already been taken off the property
Andaloro was arrested for changing the locks, which is illegal under New York City's illegal eviction law
Before police left, they cautioned her against changing the locks. It is illegal to turn off utilities, change locks and remove the belongings of someone who claims to be a tenant under city law.
Around 10 minutes later, Andaloro was met with another surprise as another man shouldered his way inside, accompanied by the squatter already taken off the property by police.
'This guy just forced himself into my house,' Andaloro exclaimed.
'Do you see this? This guy just literally broke down my door, broke through myself and my daughter.'
The new man, identified as
