In a bizarre and unsettling case out of Clackamas County, Oregon, authorities say they’ve 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 building’s electricity.
Beniamin Bucur, 40, was taken into custody late Wednesday, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, after the property owner contacted police about “strange noises” coming from beneath the building, according to Fox News.
“He had taken significant steps to improve the conditions of the crawl space and was obviously living inside,” the sheriff’s office said. “Deputies 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.”
Photos released by investigators paint a surreal picture of Bucur’s 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 — but illegal — living arrangement.
According to deputies, the investigation began when a witness spotted a man who didn’t live in the complex parking his car and walking to the rear of one of the buildings.
“The witness also noticed the door to the crawl space was open and light was coming from inside. The door then closed,” the sheriff’s 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.
“After contacting the owner, deputies were told that nobody was supposed to be down there and that there shouldn’t be any lights on inside,” the sheriff’s office also said. “The owner also reported that they had heard strange noises coming from the crawl space before.”
The owner provided keys to unlock the crawl space, but they didn’t work. Deputies then forced entry and found Bucur inside.
“The 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,” the Clackamas County Sheriff’s 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 — 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.
