Worst stories of Qld squatters, including threats, drugs and chainsaws
It’s every owner’s nightmare – squatters moving in and seizing control of your property. Here are some of Queensland’s most shocking cases. FULL LIST
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It’s every owner’s nightmare – squatters moving in and seizing control of your property.
Caboolture man Lyle Creffield, 62, in October 2022 said he’s been living in fear after discovering authorities were powerless to remove a person who claimed squatter’s rights on his garage at the front of his Caboolture home.
He was ultimately forced to take legal action after learning both the Residential Tenancies Authority and police lacked jurisdiction to help him, simply because he failed to organise a legitimate lease or agreement before allowing the person to stay for free.
Mr Creffield said he was living nervously behind locked doors for months and even after obtaining a court order, waited weeks until his “scary” squatter was legally required to vacate.
“I couldn’t access my things and cops wouldn’t do anything about it,” Mr Creffield said.
The scary scenario has sadly played out across Queensland previously: here are some of the terrifying squatter stories.
‘COME OUT HERE, I’M GOING TO BASH YOU’
Alleged squatters at a Cairns public housing unit complex made life hell for a long-time resident with a disability.
Michelle Dean, who has severe epilepsy, lived in her Manunda unit for 10 years and said squatters or unauthorised tenants had moved into two units in the complex, putting a tent up in the backyard of one unit.
She said she had been threatened with violence, and had called police in the past.
“Last night it was like punching a boxing bag, bang, bang, bang on my door,” Ms Dean said in December 2021.
She said one elderly resident was in hospital and squatters had taken over her unit.
“They say ‘come out here, I’m going to bash you, I’m going to smash the window’,” a visibly shaken Ms Dean said.
“I am scared,” she said.
A Cairns police spokesman confirmed police had been called to the address.
He said the Department of Housing said they had no advice of squatters.
“No offences have been committed and there are no squatters at this residence,” the spokesman said at the time.
‘WE WERE AT OUR WIT’S END’
Shop owners, sick of drug addicts camping on their second-floor veranda for a year, solved the problem by chainsawing off the stairs.
Beenleigh jeweller Adam Hatton in April 2020 said police and the landlord’s private security firm had unsuccessfully tried to move the drug addicts for more than a year.
Mr Hatton said his family business was at the peril of the dossers who had been caught on security cameras taking drugs and ordering pizza – all from the veranda steps.
He said the brazen squatters were even videoed dialling a dealer to deliver them drugs.
“We were at our wit’s end,” Mr Hatton said at the time.
“The security guys would come and move them but they would be back in 20 minutes.
“Police then took up the patrols and started moving them on every day but they would be back within an hour.
“After the last break-in in January the landlord decided on a new tactic and the back steps were sawn off so nobody can go up there now.”
Landlord Tony Pennisi said he had no alternative but to saw off the back steps.
‘IT’S DIFFICULT TO SLEEP IN OUR OWN BEDS’
An abandoned Gold Coast mansion became a headache for neighbours after it emerged as a haven for squatters.
Called a “disgrace” by locals, the multi-million-dollar Nerang property in May 2021 had its windows, walls and ceilings damaged.
One neighbour, Tony Burchill, at the time said he had to deal with the property’s unwanted visitors.
“We have had people off their face walk up and sit on our furniture on the back deck,” Mr Burchill told 9News at the time.
“It’s made it difficult for my 10-year-old to even sleep in her own bed.”
The 23-hectare property was once owned by Japanese billionaire Toshiaki Ogasawara.
SHOCKING TENANT AND LANDLORD HORROR STORIES
‘THERE IS A PROBLEM THERE’
Wheelie bins spewing rubbish, discarded Eskies, rope, camp chairs and other marine debris made an “eyesore” of an otherwise pristine beach a stone’s throw from the Cairns Esplanade.
Shanty-like dwellings inhabited by squatters at Ellie Point shielded from public view had gone unnoticed for years.
But the seldom-visited area only accessible by boat about 1km from the north end of the Cairns Esplanade was thrust into the public eye in January 2022 after a man wearing a “witch” mask and white gumboots allegedly threw fuel on to a beached catamaran and threatened to ignite it.
Cairns-based fishing operator John Hangodi came across the tumbledown collection of tents and an old boat he said people were living in.
“There is a problem there,” he said.
“There’s a catamaran there on the beach and it has been there for some time like some hippies have dragged a catamaran up on to the beach and are living off it.
“(About) 300m away from the catamaran the beach is littered with rubbish like someone is squatting there or having a rave.”
The authority on local marine waterways said he understood a recluse’s dream to hide away but lack of services was a problem.
‘I DON’T KNOW HOW I MEET BAD PEOPLE’
A Gold Coast woman in 2017 was forced to live in her car after she claimed a group of squatters took over her home and refused to leave.
The homeowner, a single mother identified only as Alesha, was looking to raise some extra cash so advertised on Gumtree for a flatmate. That’s when she says her nightmare began.
Alesha told the Nine Network’s A Current Affair a young woman called Tania Anderson answered her ad — her story was she needed an urgent place for herself and her daughter to live.
Alesha told the program they made a deal where Ms Anderson would rent a room for three weeks and was given three weeks rent for two rooms. But six weeks later she was still there.
Ms Anderson said she had been essentially forced out of her home and into her car, while at least two other men unknown to her moved in.
Alesha said soon after they moved in she needed to leave town for a while. It was only after she returned she discovered the locks had been changed and she was barred from entry.
“I only gave them permission for three weeks to stay … They didn’t pay me so they have no right to stay on my property,” Alesha said.
“ … I don’t know how I can meet bad people like this.”
‘THEY’RE ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDED’
Large groups of junkies and drunks turned unoccupied Cairns homes into hovels as trespassing offences spiked across the city in 2020.
Senior police at the time revealed they had been actively targeting squatting groups found in homes and vacant blocks of land at Cairns North, Woree and Earlville.
Among them is the historic former family home of Dr Leslie Westaway on the Cairns Esplanade which was valued at $1.15 million.
Cairns police Sen-Sgt Gary Hunter said police had been finding groups of up to 15 people using the homes for either day drinking or squatting.
One of the houses, an empty property on Sheridan St which was slated for demolition, was also found filled with syringes and other drug paraphernalia.
Sen-Sgt Hunter said a number of the homeowners were unaware what was occurring until notified by police.
“They’re shocked,” he said.
“Some of them don’t live in Cairns and they’re absolutely astounded about what their property is being used for.”
‘WATCH OUT, THE COPS ARE COMING’
Squatters in 2019 overran an abandoned building that was used as a Thai restaurant on a block worth almost $3 million on one of Gold Coast’s busiest roads.
The site, which was once the Chaopraya Thai Restaurant at the corner of Frederick St and the Gold Coast Highway, was wide open for passers-by to walk right in.
The Queensland Police crime map at the time showed 47 petty offences had been committed in that area in the past 12 months.
Two were trespassing and vagrancy offences, there were four offences each of unlawful entry, property damage and theft, and there were good order offences.
Seven drug offences were also recorded in the area around the Frederick St-Gold Coast Highway intersection.
“Watch out, the cops are coming,” a teen shouted from the street as News Corp visited the building.
Occupants in the upstairs storey of the building were reluctant to show themselves, only peering from rooms as the Bulletin appeared to walk away.
A Gold Coast City Council spokeswoman said the city had not received any complaints about homeless people in the former restaurant.
The property was sold in 1996 for $1.3 million to Ying Yung Chen. The land was valued at $2.7 million in June 2018.
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