Police arrest alleged squatters after property owner finds locks changed at home

Police have arrested two people for allegedly squatting in a northwest Columbia home that didn’t belong to them.

Officers say they responded to a reported burglary around 7:30 Tuesday night in the 1900 block of Garnet Drive.

The female victim apparently told officers she has not lived in that resident for more than a year, but recently started remodeling it.

The victim said she went to use her front door key and found the lock had been changed. She said someone had been living in the residence without her permission and said she found mail in the master bedroom addressed to Ashley Love.

Officers then talked to a witness who identified Ashley Love and Jason Long as living in the residence without the owner’s permission.

Officers later saw the suspects ride by the house on bicycles and took them into custody. Police say both Long and Love admitted their involvement in the incident.

Police arrested them on suspicion on felony burglary in the second degree. CaseNet records show neither are formally charged as of Thursday morning.