Up side or down side to pressing charges on a person breaking into my vacation home and sleeping there?

[lostnfound]

What do you all think? Area hit by hurricane, older couple. Should I press charges?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. If you don't they'll take it over by adverse possession. NT

[lostnfound]

8. Yes, that is a worry. Nt

[Srkdqltr]

2. Did they clean up after themselves? If they did, i would let it pass. If not press charges.

[Skittles]

3. that's a crime

tell them if they do it again you will press charges

[lostnfound]

9. I'm not there to talk to them. The police apparently know about them. Nt

[we can do it]

13. Then why didn't they remove them?

[enough]

4. I think you know already, because you're asking.

Unless they trashed the place on purpose, the hurricane makes for exceptional situations. Be glad you have a vacation home where someone could take shelter.

[lostnfound]

10. I somewhat feel that way; however, their presence there was a month after hurricane

I mention the hurricane because housing is in short supply in the region.
But i have a friend who kindly let a person stay in her house “for a week or two”, and two years later the person (who pays nothing) is trashing the place, not moving, threatening her, and swearing at her in the street… Apparently it will be a long process to get her out.

That is happening in the same county.

[Srkdqltr]

5. Oops.. are they still there?

[hlthe2b]

6. Are they gone now? If not can you help them obtain help?

Unless you think they are nothing but scammers, I would be inclined to see what alternatives there are, but don’t delay…

[Irish_Dem]

7. We don't have enough info to make a decision.

Are they still there
Did they do damage.
Intent and back story, why are they there.
Criminal and civil history.

What are they saying to you.
How did you find out.

Context is everything in this situation.

[lostnfound]

11. Neighbor chased them out, contacted me..

And he called the police.

I don’t know the people who moved in. They broke a window to get in, and left a mess.

I sort of wanted to know the pros and cons of pressing charges.

[haele]

12. If they're still there, press charges.

Or have a lawyer go over there and serve them with an eviction notice.
In the old days, I might have gone over with a lawyer over to take a look at the situation, and if they didn't seem to be drifters or scammers trying to take over your house, might offer them a reasonable/affordable short term lease so they could get their acts together and pay for any repairs, cleaning, utilities and legal you're going to go through to get them out of there in a timely manner.

But..the days of being nice and giving the benefit of the doubt are gone, especially since Sovereign Citizen scams and slacker squatter culture is increasingly popular amongst nihilists and cynics.

Haele