In a bizarre and unsettling case out of Clackamas County, Oregon, authorities say theyâve arrested a man who had been secretly living in the crawl space of a condo complex near Happy Valley, where he reportedly built a makeshift home powered by the buildingâs electricity.
Beniamin Bucur, 40, was taken into custody late Wednesday, according to the Clackamas County Sheriffâs Office, after the property owner contacted police about âstrange noisesâ coming from beneath the building, according to Fox News.
âHe had taken significant steps to improve the conditions of the crawl space and was obviously living inside,â the sheriffâs office said. âDeputies estimate he had been living there for an extended period of time. A pipe with white residue that tested positive for methamphetamine was also found.â
Photos released by investigators paint a surreal picture of Bucurâs subterranean setup. One image shows a flat-screen TV strapped to a wooden beam. Another reveals string lights crisscrossing the crawl space ceiling, illuminating what police describe as a surprisingly elaborate â but illegal â living arrangement.
According to deputies, the investigation began when a witness spotted a man who didnât live in the complex parking his car and walking to the rear of one of the buildings.
âThe witness also noticed the door to the crawl space was open and light was coming from inside. The door then closed,â the sheriffâs office said.
When deputies arrived, they noticed the crawl space door was damaged and locked. They also saw an extension cord running through a vent, raising further suspicion.
âAfter contacting the owner, deputies were told that nobody was supposed to be down there and that there shouldnât be any lights on inside,â the sheriffâs office also said. âThe owner also reported that they had heard strange noises coming from the crawl space before.â
The owner provided keys to unlock the crawl space, but they didnât work. Deputies then forced entry and found Bucur inside.
âThe owner gave keys to the deputies to open the crawl space, but they did not work. Deputies breached the door and located a man, identified as 40-year-old Beniamin Bucur,â the Clackamas County Sheriffâs Office confirmed.
In addition to the electronic setup, deputies also discovered a meth pipe, leading to additional charges.
Bucur was charged with first-degree burglary and unlawful possession of methamphetamine, with bail set at $75,000, police said.
The case has left locals stunned â not only by the length of time Bucur allegedly lived undetected beneath the building, but by the extent of the setup, complete with TVs, chargers, and lights all powered by the unsuspecting residents above.
The investigation remains ongoing.