On May 3rd, the office of Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella announced two successful cases of evicting squatters. Prosecutors from the Staten Island area and officials from the New York City Police Department concluded that surveillance cameras in front of homeowners and vigilant neighbors are effective ways to prevent homes from being occupied by squatters.
In recent times, reports of squatters have surfaced in many parts of the United States, and Staten Island is no exception. However, timely reports by neighbors in this area have prevented several instances of homes being taken over by outsiders.
One case involved a house at 305 Livermore Street, where police quickly responded the day after neighbors reported the situation, drove away the squatters, and secured the doors and windows to protect the property.
“The best prevention method is: if homeowners plan to leave for a period of time, they should be vigilant about their property by installing surveillance cameras and hiring someone to check the water and electricity bills,” said Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon in front of the house. “Community members should also be aware of such situations.”
Under a previous housing law in New York, if a person resides in a house for over 30 days for any reason, they are granted “tenant” rights, and homeowners need to go through housing court to evict them.
However, this old law became obsolete in the New York State budget passed on April 22nd. The new housing regulations state that squatters are not tenants, allowing homeowners to directly report to the authorities for eviction without going through court proceedings.
Another case involved a property at 109 Tyson Street, where a neighbor reported suspicious activity. The house was already listed for sale, and the owner had moved to Florida. However, when a real estate agent inspected the property, they found someone living there. The squatters had brought in their furniture, signed a fake lease claiming rights to occupy the property, and alleged they were victims of rental fraud. Despite this, the police acted promptly and regained possession of the property within 30 days, pressing charges against the squatters.
Assistant Commander Joseph Gullotta of the New York City Police Department’s Staten Island division reiterated the prosecutor’s statements.
“The first key is neighbors helping each other, and the second, which is crucial, is the installation of surveillance cameras,” he said. “It provides us with evidence and deterrence, as we can know when someone enters and leaves vacant properties. Cameras play an indispensable role in our work… and Staten Island excels in this aspect.”