A man suspected of squatting in a Manhattan Beach family’s garage was arrested after repeatedly raiding their refrigerator.
The homeowners, whose names have not been released, began noticing food items vanishing from their garage fridge with no explanation. They contacted the Manhattan Beach Police Department to investigate the mysterious disappearances.
Officers arrived at the residence and discovered an unexpected intruder hiding in plain sight.
“Food was disappearing from a refrigerator inside a Manhattan Beach residence’s garage. The reporting party had no idea why, until officers arrived and discovered a subject living inside the garage, and ultimately arrested him,” the Manhattan Beach Police Department wrote in a social media post.
Police did not disclose how long the man had been living in the garage or how he gained access to the property.
Authorities also withheld the suspect’s identity and booking photo details beyond the handcuffed image shared online.
The department used the incident to warn local residents about securing their garages and remaining vigilant about unusual activity around their properties.
“Keep your garages secured and stay aware of anything unusual around your property,” police advised in their post.
Social media users quickly reacted to the bizarre case with a mix of shock and practical suggestions.
“The homeowner should consider putting a security camera inside their garage,” one Instagram user commented.
Another user expressed disbelief at the family’s delayed discovery: “The home owner didn’t know a dude was living in garage? It took the police to discover a person living there? How big is the garage?”
The specific charges against the arrested man remain unknown as of this report.
Manhattan Beach, an affluent coastal city in Los Angeles County, has a population of roughly 35,000 and is known for its high property values and low crime rate compared to surrounding areas.
In the viral moment that sparked widespread attention, the family had been experiencing ongoing food theft for an unspecified period before contacting authorities. The refrigerator was located inside the garage rather than the main house, which may have delayed detection of the squatter’s presence. Police discovered the man during their response and took him into custody without incident. The case has drawn particular interest online due to the audacity of someone establishing residence in another family’s garage while repeatedly stealing food.
The Manhattan Beach Police Department regularly shares notable incidents on its social media accounts to engage with the community and promote safety awareness.
The suspect’s current custody status and any upcoming court dates have not been announced by authorities.