What are the odds? In a wild twist of real-life déjà vu, Portsmouth police responded to two eerily similar break-in-style calls within the span of an hour—both involving people tossing around someone else’s belongings, both tied to chaotic moving days, and both ending in a heap of drama.
🚪 Incident #1: The Key Heist on Bahner Road
Just after 11 a.m., a man working out of town called police with a shocking report: someone was inside his Bahner Road apartment, tossing his stuff out like yesterday’s trash. When officers arrived, they found a man on the scene who claimed he was the landlord and had every right to be there.
His defense? The tenant was moving out, and he had the key. But when officers investigated further, they discovered the key had been left in the mailbox for the tenant’s mother—not the landlord. She had shown up to help her son move and witnessed the so-called landlord fishing the key from the mailbox himself.
Cops gave the landlord a crash course in tenant rights, letting him know that entering without proper notice—key or not—can legally count as burglary. They also advised mom to hang onto that key herself moving forward.
📦 Incident #2: Bizarre Broadway Bust-Up
Barely an hour later, a woman at 10th and Broadway called 911 with a similar story: a man was at her son’s house, taking his belongings and refusing to leave. Turns out, this wasn’t the first time they’d butted heads.
Officers told the son to call if the guy came back—and sure enough, he did. But this time, he bolted before police could arrive, leaving his car parked smack in the middle of the road. Officers had the vehicle towed, ending round two of what’s clearly an ongoing feud.
🚚 How to Move Out Without Causing a Police Scene
Moving day can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to end with sirens and tow trucks. Here’s how to avoid turning your move into a melodrama:
✅ Landlords Must Give Notice – Even if someone’s moving out, landlords must provide 24 hours’ written notice before entering a unit—no exceptions. Walking in without it? That’s a crime.
✅ No Surprise Visits – If you’re helping someone move, make sure everyone involved is on the same page. Misunderstandings can quickly spiral into police calls.
✅ Don’t Leave Keys in Mailboxes – That’s an open invitation for trouble. Hand them off in person if possible.
✅ Don’t Play Repo Man – You can’t remove someone else’s property from their home—even if you think you have a right to it. If it’s a legit dispute, take it to small claims court, not the front yard.
✅ Call First, Not After – If there’s tension brewing, call the police before entering someone’s space or moving their things. It’s way easier to prevent a problem than clean up after one.
Two cases, two keys, one lesson: keep calm, know the rules, and don’t turn moving day into moving mayhem.
