Over 1,200 cases have been reported in recent years in the city of Atlanta. The squatters learn about the condition of the property from online listings and real estate agents who advertise the homes online.
In most cases where there is no proof of the existence of illegal activity, the police do not handle the claims against the trespassers, arguing that their hands are tied and it is a "civil matter" that must be handled through a lawsuit. Last October, Atlanta found itself at the center of a scandal that involved squatters turning a home into an illegal strip club.