Man arrested at Collier County condo, accused of squatting, removing toilet from bathroom

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. —

A man was arrested in Collier County after being accused of squatting in an unoccupied residence and removing the toilet from the floor.

According to the Collier County Sheriff's Office, a deputy responded to a call of a squatter at the Blue Heron Condominium community. The deputy met with a representative for the management company of the residence, who told them that the lockbox on an unoccupied condo looked off.

The deputy entered the condo and found Ezequiel Disla Ramirez, 38, inside. Ramirez looked as though he was gathering his belongings to leave, CCSO said. The deputy also noticed a toilet on a tarp in the dining area.

Ramirez told the deputy that he was in the neighborhood, noticed the lockbox was open, and used the key to gain access to the condo. Ramirez said he had only been living in the residence for a couple of days, CCSO said.

Ramirez also told the deputy he had noticed some of the tiles under the toilet were cracked, so he removed the toilet from the floor and was in the process of fixing the tiles. He planned to reattach the toilet once the tiles were fixed, CCSO said.

The deputy also noticed that Ramirex changed the lock to the front door while staying there, but had put the original lock back on and gave the key to the representative of the management company, CCSO said.

Ramirez was arrested and faces charges of burglary of an unoccupied residence and criminal mischief.

CCSO provided safety tips for property owners to prevent squatting occurrences:

• Install timed lighting and perform consistent maintenance, such as cutting grass and trimming hedges to make vacant properties appear occupied
• Secure all entrances by installing locks on doors and windows.
• Utilize security systems, including cameras and motion-sensor lights
• Visit the property at least every two weeks to check for signs of entry
• Install fences or plant thorny bushes to restrict access
• Prominently post "No Trespassing" signs
• Report suspicious activity to law enforcement.

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