Mason man accused of attempting to steal a stranger’s home while the homeowner was in Florida

Investigators are investigating a blatant break-in in Mason.

Ladarrius Gaston, 39, is accused by authorities of attempting to break into a stranger’s home.

Mason police said that Gaston was interested in the house since it hasn’t gotten as much attention since the homeowners moved to Florida.

According to them, he tried to claim the property after breaking into the house in September.

According to court documents, he even rented a dumpster to get rid of the homeowner’s personal belongings.

The 87-year-old homeowner was contacted by a neighbor in Florida who noticed the strange activities.

She made a 911 call.

The house is mine. I’m in Florida at the moment. The homeowner said, “I just got a call saying that people are coming and going from my house, taking things out.”

Are you aware of the person who is allegedly removing things from the house? The dispatcher wanted to know.

The homeowner said, “No, I have no idea.”

Gaston was taken into custody by Mason police.

Last Monday, he was indicted for possession of criminal instruments, burglary, and criminal damage.

Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell claims that Gaston tried to assert what is known as squatter rights or adverse possession.

Unusually for Warren County, property theft and fraud have become issues in various cities.

“It has had major repercussions across the United States,” said Warren County recorder Linda Oda.

Homeowners and business owners can take precautions by enrolling in property fraud alerts in certain Ohio counties, such as Warren.

If someone records a document against your name, it alerts you within 24 hours so you may promptly take the necessary action.

“You can usually stop it before it hurts you if you can get on top of it quickly,” Oda added. An email, a phone call, or a text are your options. It’s even available in Spanish.