A Georgia man was caught squatting in a deceased man's home and peddling his possessions, only to be nabbed by police thanks to vigilant neighbors. George Kalb, 49, took up residence in the Powder Springs property, which fell vacant after the former homeowner, Michael Peterson, died last June. Kalb was arrested on felony charges of first-degree burglary and theft by conversion. The arrest occurred before the Peach State's new Squatters Law, aimed at tackling such invaders more swiftly, came into effect.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the house had gone into foreclosure and sat empty until April. Kalb allegedly produced a fabricated lease document signed by an unknown Alabama real estate agent and had replaced a lock on the back door. Neighbors observed him selling items from within the home, prompting them to alert the family and authorities. "When I saw people walking out of the house with Michael's personal belongings, it's like, 'OK, now he's selling stuff out of the house,'" neighbor Cristina Scelsi recounted to FOX 5 Atlanta.
Darryl Huffman, another local resident, told WSB-TV that suspicions arose when Kalb, with a U-Haul truck, appeared to move in on April 16. "He had these papers and fumbling and going through these papers as though he wanted to show me," Huffman said. Neighbours reported Kalb's suspicious activity, ultimately leading to his capture on video during the arrest.
Georgia's new Squatters Law, which came into force shortly after Kalb'sinception, establishes stricter penalties and fast-tracks procedures to eject squatters. "I think homeowners in the future are going to have a much quicker response time to this," Brittany Peterson, Michael Peterson's daughter-in-law, stated to FOX 5 Atlanta. Under the new regulation, a suspected squatter could be cited for trespassing, which sets a three-day clock ticking for their removal. Reaction to the law indicates a community ready to shut down the loophole exploited by opportunistic squatters.
Neighbors played a crucial role in Kalb's apprehension by keeping the police informed of his activities. Their prompt action and the neighborhood's solidarity stand as a testament to the power of community vigilance. Michael Peterson's home is scheduled to be auctioned off next week.
