A Baltimore property owner says a flashing light in an upstairs window exposed an unauthorized occupant inside a rowhome that was supposed to be empty.
Robert “Bobby” Williams told FOX45’s Spotlight on Maryland that he was driving past his vacant East Baltimore property on the 2900 block of McElderry Street when he noticed a neon flicker from the second floor.
The Elwood Park house, located near Johns Hopkins Hospital, was not supposed to have anyone inside. Williams said no realtor, contractor, or worker had been sent to the property.
FOX45 reported that Williams went inside and found a makeshift bedroom in the master suite, with flashing lights attached to the headboard and lingerie in the room. Vacant homes, rentals between tenants, inherited properties, and renovation projects can become targets when broken entries or signs of occupancy go unchecked.
The Owner Pointed to a Broken Back Window
Williams later walked Spotlight on Maryland through the home and pointed to a rear window as the place where he believed someone got inside.
He said the window had been broken and that someone entered through it and started living there. FOX45 also reported signs of heavy drug use inside the home, including used needles and apparent heroin capsules.
Maryland Passed a New Law on Counterfeit Leases
Maryland recently passed legislation aimed at fraudulent leases and alleged online squatting schemes after repeated complaints from homeowners and property managers.
SB82 prohibits a person, with intent to defraud, from creating, helping create, or possessing a counterfeit lease or rental agreement for real property. The bill’s listed effective date is October 1, 2026.
Property rules vary by state, but the risk is familiar for owners across the country. A vacant house can become harder to recover when someone claims a right to be there, produces questionable paperwork, or has already caused damage inside.
Vacant Homes Need Regular Checks
Williams told FOX45 the visible light helped reveal the problem. He said he intentionally leaves some vacant properties uncovered so he can see inside during routine checks.
Owners of empty homes should secure rear windows and basement entries, photograph the condition of the property, keep mail and exterior areas from looking abandoned, and use cameras or motion lights where allowed.
Signs of unauthorized occupancy should be reported quickly, especially when there is a broken entry point, new furniture, utility use, changed locks, discarded drug items, or paperwork from someone claiming to rent the property.