A tip made to Colleyville police about squatters in a home has led to the arrest of an adult on a felony charge.
The Colleyville Police Department received a tip about squatters residing in a house located on Bridlewood Court. Police said the information helped them link the adult and some of their associates to several crimes in the area, including car burglaries and credit card abuse.
On Friday, Jan. 5., Colleyville police said they went to the home to execute an arrest and search warrant, where they found the adult and several children "squatting."
The adult, whose name has not been released, was arrested and charged with felony credit card or debit card abuse.
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Police said that stemmed from other crimes in the area, including a stolen car and multiple vehicle burglaries.
Colleyville Police said officers also recovered an overdue U-Haul rental truck that was parked at the property, and they returned the vehicle to the company.
Neighbors said the truck had raised suspicion.
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"Initially, we saw a U-Haul pull up into the driveway of a house that's been vacant for a while and felt kind of excited that we were going to have new neighbors," said Jana Karika, who lives nearby. "And then, the U-Haul sat there for longer than it should, and we started to feel like something wasn't right."
Meeta Karanth said it also aroused her parents' suspicion.
"They really were questioning, like, what's going on?" she said.
Karanth, who is visiting her parents from out of town, said they were shocked when news came out about the inhabitants of the house.
"I think they were a little dismayed and sad that it was happening in their neighborhood and, yeah, just like, disbelief that it was happening," she said.
She and Karika said they also grew concerned about who was inside.
"Just wondering what position must they have been in to put them and their children in that kind of situation? How did they get there? And so at the same time, it can't be something that's allowed. It is also just a sad thing," she said.
Both said they still feel safe in the neighborhood.
"This is a sweet community, and neighbors look out for each other and, yeah, it's a happy place to be, which is why it was sad to see something like that happen here," Karika said.
Police have not specified the relationship of everyone living inside the home.
They said the home was a rental, and the owner had to be involved in the eviction process.
Police said Tarrant County constables served an official eviction notice, and the inhabitants have 30 days to leave.
The police department called the incidents crimes of opportunity, and urges residents to keep their vehicles and properties safe by hiding their belongings, locking their cars, and taking their keys or fobs.
They also thanked the neighbor who called them with the tip.
A spokesperson said the investigation is ongoing into other people involved in this case, and more arrests could be on the way.
