A New York City property owner was recently handcuffed during a heated standoff with alleged squatters she was attempting to evict from her family’s house, according to harrowing footage.
Adele Andaloro, aged 47, was apprehended by authorities after she recently replaced the locks on her parents’ $1 million residence in Flushing, Queens. According to ABC’s Eyewitness News, Andaloro claims to have inherited the property upon her parents’ passing.
The homeowner expressed their frustration with the ongoing squatter saga, describing it as enraging.
“It’s really unfair that I, as the homeowner, have to go through all of this.”
According to Andaloro, the trouble began when she decided to sell her home last month. To her surprise, she discovered that squatters had taken up residence and had even gone so far as to replace the front door and locks.
On February 29th, she reached a breaking point and decided to seek refuge at her family’s residence on 160th Street. Accompanied by a local TV outlet, she took the initiative to call a locksmith and have the locks changed.
The situation escalated quickly as a heated argument erupted between the individuals residing in the house, all captured on camera.
A surprising twist has emerged in the case of a suspected squatter in a $1 million New York City home. It appears that the individual in question has been subletting space within the property, according to a fellow resident who claims to have been conned.
The police intervened and escorted two individuals off the premises.
In New York City, individuals can assert their rights as squatters after residing at a property for just 30 days.
According to the law, homeowners are prohibited from altering the locks, disconnecting the utilities, or removing the belongings of the individuals referred to as “tenants” from the property.
Andaloro expressed frustration, stating that the investigation, work, and job would take over 30 days, while the man would still be in her home.
“I have a genuine fear that these individuals will escape without consequences for stealing my home,” she expressed her concern.
When The Post approached the door, a woman stated that she had no knowledge about the squatting allegations.
“I don’t need to provide any further explanation. It would be best to discuss the matter with the individual who owns the business or has concerns with the woman, as I am not involved and lack any knowledge regarding the issue. It is not my responsibility,” she stated firmly as she emphatically closed the door.
Andaloro, armed with the deeds, was caught on camera entering the property when one of the apparent tenants left the front door open during the recent encounter at her home.
Andaloro expressed his anger towards him during the incident caught on camera, stating, “You shouldn’t be attempting to take my house.”
After receiving numerous 911 calls, the responding police informed Andaloro that she would need to resolve the situation in housing court as it was classified as a “landlord-tenant issue.”
According to The Post, Andaloro received an unlawful eviction charge from the NYPD because she had changed the locks and failed to provide a new key to the occupant.
According to the police, she received a criminal court summons and was slapped with it.
Although other alleged squatters were seen being arrested in the footage, the police have stated that no other arrests or summonses were made.
According to Andaloro, she is currently compelled to initiate an eviction filing in court as a means to resolve the ongoing dispute between her and the landlord.
“It’s absolutely mind-boggling. We’re completely clueless about how they managed to infiltrate our home and when exactly it occurred. It’s baffling to think about how these individuals discovered that the house was unoccupied. It’s a mystery to me.”
In recent weeks, there have been several incidents involving squatters in New York City. One such incident occurred in Douglaston, Queens, where a couple’s attempt to move into a $2 million home with their disabled son was disrupted by a squatter. The squatter claimed to have an agreement with the previous owner, causing a major setback for the couple.
According to Alan J. Goldberg, an attorney specializing in landlord vs tenant law based in New York, there has been a significant increase of 40 to 50% in similar cases in the city due to the impacts of COVID.
He emphasized that it is the city’s responsibility to address the matter.
Goldberg explained that removing them now is more challenging due to the backlog in the courts.
“I believe that squatters and licensees should have access to a fast-track court system where their cases can be heard and resolved more efficiently.”
