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Phone: 503-823-4064 Fax: 503-823-3050 www.portlandonline.com/oni/cp

CITY OF

OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD INVOLVEMENT

PORTLAND, OREGONAMANDA FRITZ, COMMISSIONER

Amalia Alarcn de Morris, Bureau Directo

Crime Prevention Program1221 SW 4

thAvenue, Room 110

Portland, Oregon 97204

O r g a n i z i n g a n d s u p p o r t i n g c o m m u n i t y p a r t n e r s h i p s t o p r e v e n t c r i m e a n d t h e f e a r o f c r i m e .

Jane Leo, Governmental Affairs DirectorPortland Metropolitan Association of Realtors825 NE Multnomah, Suite 1145Portland, Oregon 97232

November 29, 2011

Dear Jane,

Thank you for your inquiry today about the incidents of people claiming to be connected to

Occupy Portland illegally entering vacant, foreclosed properties for the purpose of living there,also known as squatting. Yes, what you have heard is true. In two instances that we know of,groups of people claiming a connection to Occupy Portland have squatted in vacant, foreclosedhomes. In both cases, the homes were in NE Portland, and the neighbors alerted the police,who removed the squatters from the properties.

We believe it is likely that others will attempt the same thing. Please alert your membership tothis possibility, and offer them the following guidelines.

If you discover that a property you are showing or managing has or has had squatters:1. Decide whether you feel safe to talk to the squatters. If you feel comfortable doing so,

tell them that they are trespassing, and they need to move out immediately.

2. Call the police. Call 9-1-1 if the squatters are present. Call 503-823-3333 if the squattersare not present.

3. Secure the house. Some options: change the locks; install motion detector orphotosensitive lighting; trim the landscaping to increase visibility. Be sure to post at leastone no trespassing sign in a visible spot on the building.

4. Sign a trespass agreement with the police if you are authorized to do so by the owner ofthe property. If you are not authorized, explain to the owner the value in signing atrespass agreement. Trespass agreements allow the police to immediately removepeople from the property without first having to contact a person in charge of that

property. To obtain a trespass agreement, call the pertinent police precinct. NorthPrecinct 503-823-5700, East Precinct 503-823-4800, Central Precinct 503-823-0097.

5. Talk to the neighbors of the property. Give them your card and ask them to contact youand the police if they see squatters return.

6. Continue to check on the property to ensure it is secure.

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If your members need any advice or further assistance, please have them call their CrimePrevention Coordinator or their Neighborhood Response Team Officer. They can find their CPCoordinator by calling 503-823-4000, and they can find their NRT Officer by calling theirprecinct.

Thanks again for your inquiry, Jane, and for offering to spread the word with the PMAR

membership.

Best wishes,

Stephanie ReynoldsCrime Prevention Program ManagerOffice of Neighborhood InvolvementCity of Portland503-823-2030