Squatters Take Over 1,200 Homes in Atlanta, Open Illegal Strip Clubs and Terrorize Neighbors

Squatters are ruining entire neighborhoods in Atlanta and police response to evict is so slow, some homeowners have resorted to paying nuisances to leave.

Brazen squatters even opened an illegal strip club on a property they had taken over — one of the 1,200 homes which has been squatted in the city, according to the National Rental Home Council (NRHC) trade group.

“I’d be terrified in Atlanta to lease out one of my properties,” Matt Urbanski, who manages a local home-cleaning company, told Bloomberg.

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Simon Frost, CEO of large-scale landlord Tiber Capital Group, said there have been incidents of unlawful occupants brandishing weapons and threatening neighbors, which affects the safety of neighborhoods and other residents {snip}

Evicting squatters in Atlanta is tough, involving negotiating court backlogs and strained police resources.

Meanwhile, online listings and virtual real estate agents make it easy for squatters to identify vacant properties to break into.

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The drama unfolded in the South Fulton area, where four individuals — DeAnthony Maddox, Jeremy Wheat, Kelvin Hall and Tarahsjay Forde — took up residence without permission. {snip}

The squatters ran the clandestine strip club, held noisy parties and even organized car races in the street, ruining the neighborhood for others, according to local reports.

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Eventually a SWAT team had to clear out the house and recovered two stolen cars, a stolen weapon and stolen credit cards from the property, according to the local report.

One neighbor told The Post they are afraid to even go on vacation because if squatters find out their home was vacant, they just move right in.

“Is this even America anymore? {snip} the neighbor said in frustration.

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