Squatter arrested after moving into vacant $17million San Francisco mansion and selling off $300,000 of the owner's artworks

  • Jeremiah Kaylor, 38, allegedly was squatting in a 7-bedroom mansion for two months 
  • Kaylor sold paintings valued at more than $300,000 from the home but for much lower amounts 
  • Police responded to the home Sunday and found Kaylor with a painting next to a moving van
  • He was arrested on suspicion of burglary

By Alexandra Klausner For Dailymail.com and Associated Press

Published: 12:37 EST, 20 October 2015 | Updated: 03:29 EST, 21 October 2015

Charged: Jeremiah Kaylor, 38, was arrested on suspicion of burglary after police say he was squatting in a mansion and selling off the art 

Charged: Jeremiah Kaylor, 38, was arrested on suspicion of burglary after police say he was squatting in a mansion and selling off the art 

San Francisco police say they arrested a man who was squatting in a mansion on the market and sold several paintings from the home valued at more than $300,000.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday that officers found Jeremiah Kaylor, 38, of Arizona at the home in the ritzy Pacific Heights neighborhood after receiving reports of a suspicious person.

Officer Carlos Manfredi says the man told police he was buying the home, but a real estate agent said he was trespassing. The agent also said 11 paintings were missing.

Though the art was valued in the high six-figures, Manfredi said Kaylor sold the pieces for well below their value.

Police responded to the home on Sunday and found Kaylor with a painting next to a moving van. He was arrested on suspicion of burglary after a neighbor tipped off the police that they saw lights on in the vacant home. 

Authorities say they tracked down nine of the paintings and expect to find the other two soon.

The home which was once valued at $25million is now listed as a 'single family home' for $17million. 

It had been vacant for five years, according to CBS San Francisco.  

Police say Kaylor occupied the 8-bedroom 7-bathroom mansion for around two months before he was caught and that it is unclear how he got access to the home. 

Manfredi theorizes he was able to enter through an open window.  

'They made contact with the squatter, he identified himself, produced paperwork saying that he was going to be the proprietor of the house and was in the process of owning the home,' Manfredi told ABC News.

Officers were not able to get in touch with the sales manager from Vanguard Properties since it was almost midnight, and there was no way to prove whether the papers were real, Manfredi said. 

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The home which was once valued at $25million is now listed as a 'single family home' for $17million

The home which was once valued at $25million is now listed as a 'single family home' for $17million

Police say Kaylor occupied the 8-bedroom 7-bathroom mansion for around two months before he was caught and that it is unclear how he got access to the home

Police say Kaylor occupied the 8-bedroom 7-bathroom mansion for around two months before he was caught and that it is unclear how he got access to the home

The home is in the ritzy Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco 

The home is in the ritzy Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco 

Police believe Kaylor was able to enter the home through an open window

Police believe Kaylor was able to enter the home through an open window

Police returned on Sunday and arrested Kaylor after the sales manager confirmed he was trespassing.

'While detaining him, an officer noticed a big wooden crate that you would put a painting inside for transport and upon opening the crate, they discovered it was one of the paintings that belonged to the home, Manfredi said.

Kaylor said he sold the paintings on social media and also took the art to pawn shops. 

According to Kaylor's Facebook page he is a painter and a father of three children. The children were not at the mansion and it's unclear whose custody they are in.

Police said Kaylor claimed he was buying the home and even procured paperwork that said he was going to be the proprietor of the house 

Police said Kaylor claimed he was buying the home and even procured paperwork that said he was going to be the proprietor of the house 

Police found him on Sunday with a painting (some pictured here) next to a moving van. He was arrested on suspicion of burglary after the sales manager confirmed he was trespassing 

Police found him on Sunday with a painting (some pictured here) next to a moving van. He was arrested on suspicion of burglary after the sales manager confirmed he was trespassing 

Authorities say they tracked down nine of the paintings nd expect to find the other two soon

Authorities say they tracked down nine of the paintings nd expect to find the other two soon

Kaylor said he sold the paintings on social media and also took the art to pawn shops

Kaylor said he sold the paintings on social media and also took the art to pawn shops

According to Kaylor's Facebook page he is a painter and a father of three children

According to Kaylor's Facebook page he is a painter and a father of three children


 

 

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