Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to a distress call at a mansion in Hollywood Hills West and consequently unearthed a group of squatters occupying the multi-million-dollar residence. The mansion at 1754 Sunset Plaza Drive, once listed for more than $10 million, had been abandoned and left in an appalling state by the squatters.
Upon arrival, officers found three individuals – a man and two women – living in the property. They were removed from the premises, cited for trespassing, and subsequently released. One of the women claimed that she had been hired to clean the property and remove the squatters, but the real estate agent for the home refuted these claims, confirming that none of the three individuals were authorised to be on the property.
The once luxurious mansion is now in a state of disrepair, littered with debris and feces, and marked by graffiti. This incident has raised safety concerns among the neighbors, who reported strangers frequenting the property at all hours and an associated increase in crime in the area.
This is not the first time the police have been called to this particular address. In January 2022, a 41-year-old man was arrested following an hours-long standoff with SWAT officers after he allegedly pointed a shotgun at an individual. At the time, it was believed that the man had been squatting in the vacant home.
While it remains to be seen how the city will respond to the situation, the incident has not appeared to negatively impact local property values, as construction of large, elaborate homes continues throughout the canyon.