In a quiet South Sacramento neighbourhood, one resident has taken it upon himself to stand guard over a neighbouring property that has descended into a dangerous state of disrepair and illegal occupation.
A Relentless Battle Against Trespassers
Joseph Caldeira began his vigilant watch in July, after the house next door entered probate and was left vacant. His efforts started modestly when he recovered a stolen boat from the backyard, finding it abandoned near a local little league field. However, this incident proved to be a precursor to a far more serious and ongoing problem.
The situation rapidly deteriorated. Caldeira reported a strong smell of ammonia emanating from the property, a tell-tale sign of a severe rodent infestation. "The rats are in there really bad," he explained. "They have chewed holes in the drywall and the floor." Despite his attempts to secure the site with 'No Trespassing' signs and a fortified gate, unwanted visitors have been undeterred.
Escalating Dangers and a Close Call
With permission from the homeowner's brother, Caldeira did his best to bolt up the property. He installed security cameras, which have captured new trespassers on an almost weekly basis, and even set up an alarm to scare people away. Yet, the dangers have only multiplied.
In a alarming turn of events, the abandoned house caught fire in November. Surveillance footage from a nearby street captured the blaze. Caldeira acted quickly, hosing down his own trees to prevent the fire from spreading. He noted the grave risk, stating that if the fire had occurred in the summer, the property would have "gone up like a cinder."
A Plea for Official Intervention
Now, Joseph Caldeira is struggling to prevent the derelict home from becoming a permanent hazard. His primary concern is the safety of his own family, heightened by a past experience where a squatter from a nearby property broke into his home in the middle of the night.
He is urgently calling on the city council for help, specifically requesting a secure fence to be erected around the property. Local officials have acknowledged the severity of the issue, confirming the home is in serious danger of collapsing and poses a direct threat to the community. They stated that if the unresponsive property owner cannot be reached, the council will have to step in and install a fence.
For now, Caldeira remains on watch, caught in a frustrating cycle. "You scare one away, but another one comes," he lamented. While the city is reportedly in talks with the family and a probate attorney, the future of the abandoned home and the relief for its steadfast neighbour remains uncertain.
