Taggers and squatters continue to target a multi-million-dollar mansion in the Hollywood Hills that neighbors say has been vacant for more than two years.
In the past week, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed officers responded to the property four times for calls involving burglary and trespassing. Nearby residents are sharing concerns for their safety, saying the tagging is getting worse.
One tagger spoke with KTLA on Friday, saying the property is beautiful and has the potential for “a lot of graffiti art.”
The man said the property has different entry points, and that they don’t need to hop a fence but can walk right up to the home instead.
KTLA’s Sandra Mitchell spoke with neighbors who said sometimes vandals intrude on the mansion and squat inside for days.
A public records search shows the home belongs to John Middleton, whose father owns the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team.
The search also shows Middleton hasn’t paid taxes in years, and there is a lien on the property. Middleton reportedly owns another Hollywood Hills home that is also heavily targeted by squatters.
According to L.A. City Councilwoman Nithya Raman’s office, the city has been working with the LAPD and the Department of Building and Safety on this case.
Raman’s office said DBS issued an abatement order that the homeowner ignored, and then DBS tried securing the property with fencing but the security measure was breached.
“The owner is in egregious violation of the law and we are elevating the issue with the abandoned buildings unit at DBS to ensure that the fullest extent of enforcement is being implemented urgently and swiftly,” said Raman’s office.
KTLA contacted the homeowner, but they haven’t responded to the request for comment.
