A man who decided to play squatters at their own game after they illegally moved into his mum's home has revealed how he managed to get the unwanted settlers to vacate the property. Flash Sheldon, from Nevada California, soon discovered it can take months or even years to evict non-paying residents from your property as they're covered by squatters' rights.
The problem started when his mother's house was put up for rent following the death of his father - and a woman claiming to be a prison guard asked if she could move in. However, when she said she didn't have any credit or money Flash declined to let her stay but that did not stop her, the Mirror reports.
He later found a truckload of the woman's possessions inside his mum's house with her claiming they were 'delivered by accident and she was getting rid of it'. Taking to YouTube, he shared how he successfully managed to eliminate the squatters by simply installing cameras inside and out of the property.
He said: "If they could take a house, then I could take a house. They're the squatter, and they have rights. Well, then, if I become the squatter on the squatter, then I should have rights, right?"
Although squatting might be illegal, it doesn't stop people moving into empty homes in an attempt to claim them as their own. Flash, who works as a handyman, tried to go down the official route by contacting the police but decided to give his idea a shot after hearing 'horror stories about how the legal system gives the squatter more rights than the homeowner.'
He said: "I decided to come up with a way on my own to get them out in less than a day. Even though you're at your house, and you're paying the mortgage… at some point, squatters feel like they have more rights than you, so they don't have incentive to leave until a judge tells them to.
"And that could take months, six months, it could take years. I don't know. I didn't want to take that chance."
When Flash showed up to his mother's house in Northern California, he waited outside in his car until everybody had left before letting himself into the property with his key. While waiting for the squatters to return, he recorded what he saw inside the house including boxes, furniture and other belongings and installed cameras throughout the rooms.
After spotting him outside the house, two of the women approached him, with one saying: "I'm really sorry about all this. It's a nightmare." He calmly told them they needed to remove all of their belongings by midnight or he would get rid of them all.
The threat appeared to work as the squatters began to pack up their belongings before moving out. He said: "I think just the fact that I was there was enough.
"It was actually fun to do it. I won't lie about that. I'm glad it was successful."
Although Flash was successful, he has warned others to be wary of the dangers of taking matters into their own hands. He said: "I don't suggest that everyone take a chance like I did on their own.
"It's worth noting that I have had special training, a license to carry and was prepared for whatever situation was to arise. The men and women I had to deal with remained peaceful and that may not always be the case.
"If you ever have a situation like this, it is best to expect the worst and you will be prepared."
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