Hi Everyone,
I received a visit from the police a few nights back saying that I needed to go check up on my IP as the garage door, back entrance door and upstairs windows were all open and had been for nearly two weeks (as told by the neighbor).
The house was in pretty bad shape. I found holes in the walls in most rooms, with some of them being perfect square cut outs (I also found knives covered in plaster lying nearby some of the holes). Some holes had been re-plastered but not painted over. Every cupboard, closet, draw etc. in every room had been emptied onto the floor, with the tenants stuff lying around the entire house. Curtains had been ripped, or taken off the rail. All of her belongings including furniture, appliances (besides the TV) and even a small amount of clothes were still in the house. The back security door looked like it may have been opened with a screw driver as the lock is broken and there is an obvious bend of the metal next to the lock.
I immediately went to the police as I could not determine if the property had been broken into or if the tenant had caused the damage or a combination of both. The police could not help me unless I could determine who caused the damage (Silly me to assume that was their job!). My PM firmly believes that the tenant has caused the damage and done a runner and has proceeded to VCAT and advised me to change the locks, which I have just done.
Obviously I do not want the tenant back into the property. However I am a little concerned in case something has perhaps happened to her? I find it very odd that all of her belongings, including personal items like clothes, are still in the property. The house almost looks as though someone had gone through it to try and find something? The broken lock on the back security door is also another concern.
Does anyone believe I should go back to the police station and inform them again to try and come out to the property for a better look? Once we are allowed to 'legally' enter the property can I assume that all of her belongings are now ours and we are free to do what we want with them?
Thank you.
I received a visit from the police a few nights back saying that I needed to go check up on my IP as the garage door, back entrance door and upstairs windows were all open and had been for nearly two weeks (as told by the neighbor).
The house was in pretty bad shape. I found holes in the walls in most rooms, with some of them being perfect square cut outs (I also found knives covered in plaster lying nearby some of the holes). Some holes had been re-plastered but not painted over. Every cupboard, closet, draw etc. in every room had been emptied onto the floor, with the tenants stuff lying around the entire house. Curtains had been ripped, or taken off the rail. All of her belongings including furniture, appliances (besides the TV) and even a small amount of clothes were still in the house. The back security door looked like it may have been opened with a screw driver as the lock is broken and there is an obvious bend of the metal next to the lock.
I immediately went to the police as I could not determine if the property had been broken into or if the tenant had caused the damage or a combination of both. The police could not help me unless I could determine who caused the damage (Silly me to assume that was their job!). My PM firmly believes that the tenant has caused the damage and done a runner and has proceeded to VCAT and advised me to change the locks, which I have just done.
Obviously I do not want the tenant back into the property. However I am a little concerned in case something has perhaps happened to her? I find it very odd that all of her belongings, including personal items like clothes, are still in the property. The house almost looks as though someone had gone through it to try and find something? The broken lock on the back security door is also another concern.
Does anyone believe I should go back to the police station and inform them again to try and come out to the property for a better look? Once we are allowed to 'legally' enter the property can I assume that all of her belongings are now ours and we are free to do what we want with them?
Thank you.