Editorial: What are we to do about squatters?

Those who deal in real estate know about squatters. These are people who move into vacant homes and won’t move out. One local Realtor had to buy a company car so his employees could drive around weekly to each of the homes they were trying to sell to make sure nobody had moved into them.
Information on the laws on squatters is confusing, but seem to favor those who wish to move into someone else’s empty house and not pay rent, or utilities, or taxes, or anything else.
The house that burned on Denton Road on Dec. 13 had been identified by neighbors as having had squatters for FOUR YEARS. Nobody did anything about it when neighbors called the township building and police departments.
VBT Deputy Director of Public Safety – Police Jason Wright wrote an email reply to concerned citizen CeJay Marshall on the subject saying, “Just so you know the minute the irresponsible rumors began flowing in the media we were on it. We are trying to seek the facts. I have been meeting with our detective bureau routinely. Since the cause has not been finalized yet by the MSP fire marshal division and our fire investigators I am being very cautious to speak about the case. Eventually we can talk about [it].”
We’re looking forward to VBT Police and other township officials talking about it. If we can prevent another fire, like the one that killed a teenager — and brought another child to the brink of death — all efforts will be worth it. Let’s talk about it.