Squatters’ New Trick: Pretending to Be Locked Out

We’re used to squatters forcing doors or using fake leases. But in Zaragoza,Spain,a woman used a more subtle method to enter an empty apartment: she called a locksmith,pretending she was locked out. This is what the newspaper the Reason reveals, shedding light on a disturbing trend. Some squatters are now relying on appearing normal to avoid detection.But this story didn’t go as planned…

Squatters Playing the Ordinary Lie

In the case reported by the Reason, a 45-year-old woman and her minor daughter went to a building on Avenida de Cataluña in Zaragoza. She claimed she’d slammed the door to her apartment with the keys inside. She even saeid she’d left her papers in the apartment. The locksmith, seemingly unsuspecting, started to drill the lock.

But the neighbors, already aware the apartment had recently been vacated after a previous illegal occupation, weren’t fooled. The sound of the drill alerted them, and the police arrived within minutes. When confronted, the false occupant claimed she was just trying to retrieve her belongings and mentioned a “temporary” stay while she cared for her mother. She was arrested, her daughter was taken into care, and the real owner was contacted.

When Squatters Exploit Legal Services

This method exploits a real vulnerability: the assumption of good faith. Locksmiths, understandably, often prioritize helping someone who appears legitimately locked out. It’s a clever tactic, but it’s also illegal. It highlights the challenges property owners face in protecting their vacant properties.