A Portsmouth man got an unexpected surprise after someone checking on his property reported there might be somebody living in his garage.
According to police, the homeowner was out of town when the person cutting his grass contacted him about suspicious activity at the property.
The man then called police and asked officers to check the garage.
When officers arrived, they reportedly found a woman living inside.
The woman claimed another man had given her permission to stay there.
But after officers contacted the property owner, he told police nobody had permission to be there.
The woman was warned she could be arrested if she returned. She gathered her belongings and left the property.
⚖️ A HISTORY OF EVICTIONS
Court records show the woman was involved in two eviction cases in Portsmouth Municipal Court last year.
In one case, a bailiff reportedly had to force entry into a property to serve eviction paperwork.
That case was later dismissed but revived months afterward.
Court records show the landlord was eventually granted permission to remove her from the property earlier this year.
🏠 SECOND EVICTION CALL INVOLVED MEDICAL SUPPLIES
In another case, Portsmouth police were called to 7th Street after a woman who had recently been evicted said she still needed to retrieve oxygen tanks and medical supplies left inside the apartment.
The woman told officers she had moved out four days earlier but still needed access to important belongings.
Police attempted to contact others at the building and the listed property owners but were unable to reach them.
Officers ultimately provided the woman with the owners’ information so she could continue trying to recover her property.
👀 WHAT OHIO LAW SAYS ABOUT EVICTIONS
Evictions can become legally messy very quickly.
In Ohio:
- Landlords generally cannot simply throw tenants out without a court order
- Bailiffs are often involved in formal removals
- Tenants may still have rights to retrieve personal belongings afterward
At the same time, landlords also face major problems when:
- Former tenants leave large amounts of property behind
- People return after eviction
- Unauthorized individuals move into vacant spaces
⚠️ THE BIGGEST LESSON: TAKE YOUR STUFF
Police and landlords alike will tell you the same thing:
Once an eviction happens, it’s best to remove your belongings as quickly as possible.
Because afterward:
- Access can become complicated
- Locks may change
- Property can disappear
- Communication breaks down
- And police often have limited authority in what becomes a civil dispute
In these cases, one woman allegedly moved into a garage she had no permission to occupy.
Another was trying to get lifesaving medical equipment back after leaving an apartment.
And both situations ended with police caught in the middle of housing problems that are becoming more and more common.
