A Texas family’s home was allegedly overtaken by a pair of alcohol-swilling and meth-loving squatters while they were on vacation.
Jerry Vallade, 43, and Dustin Gamblin, 40, were arrested after they allegedly broke into the home and settled in — even wearing the family’s clothes, driving their Jeep and cooking their food, according to Fox 26.
The pair of squatters also drank all their alcohol, left behind baggies of meth and stole money, homeowners Connie and Joe Cases said.
The couple told Fox 26 that their son-in-law spotted Vallade sitting on the front porch while they were away.
When the relative asked who he was, Vallade claimed to know the Cases family.
“He told him he knew us, because he’d seen our name,” Connie said.
“As he’s talking to him, our Jeep comes pulling down the road with the other thief driving it.”
The couple immediately rushed home, where they found that the suspects had eaten their food, used their shower, drank their booze, and wore their clothing.
“They drank all our alcohol, chopped up some brisket, had hot sauce out,” Connie said.
Connie also found a bag of meth inside the console of her Jeep as she was on her way to get a car wash.
Cops then found a baggie of the drugs inside the home, the local outlet reported.
“I’m sure they were going to stay longer — Connie just found some boudin in our freezer. I guess they were going to cook it tonight if we didn’t come home,” Joe told the outlet.
“At least they didn’t tear the house up,” he said. “It could’ve been worse.”
The alleged squatters now face charges of drug possession, breaking and entering, and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has pushed for stricter anti-squatting laws in the Lone Star State.
“Private property rights are a cornerstone of our values and legal system,” Abbott said in February.
“It is against the law to live or stay on somebody’s property without their permission. We need stronger laws to immediately remove and prosecute squatters.”
He signed a bill into law making it easier for landlords to boot squatters and introducing new criminal penalties for the interlopers, according to KVUE.
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