In a baffling incident, police in Michigan discovered a woman living inside the sign of a Family Fare grocery store in Midland.
The woman, nicknamed the 'Rooftop Ninja' by the police, was arrested after living in the sign of the grocery for an entire year
Contractors working at the grocery store made the startling discovery.
They noticed an extension cord on the roof, which they traced back to the store's sign above the entrance.
Inside the sign, they found a makeshift home complete with flooring, a pantry of food, a desk, and even a houseplant.
Polie expresses their bafflement after discovering a woman had lived inside grocery store for a year
Midland Police Department Public Relations Officer Brennon Warren expressed his astonishment at the discovery. He stated that he had never seen anything like it in his career.
He said: “I’ve never seen anything like this before in my career."
The police were alerted to the situation and informed the woman that she needed to find another place to live.
According to the police, the woman, aged 34, did not work for the supermarket but reportedly had a job and access to a car.
However, after being offered housing assistance and other resources, she chose to decline their help, and she was released with no criminal charges.
One person said: no charges were pursued, the employees treated her with respect, care, and professionalism. One of them apparently works with the homeless and provided her resources to get help.
A second wrote: I know this may be considered as trespassing but if she isn't stealing or harming anyone then the state could easily provide a place for her.
While a third commented: Living there for a year through a Michigan winter? Wow.
Another continued: It’s maybe a sign of the times ,as people can’t afford to buy a home.
Someone else said: I like how they can kick her out of a empty inside of a sign, but couldn’t kick her out of someone’s home that is relying on renting it so they don’t lose it to the bank.
In a related story, Mickey Barreto, aged 48, was arrested after living rent-free in a New York City hotel room for five years.
Barreto exploited a local housing law that allowed individuals occupying single rooms in buildings constructed before 1969 to obtain a six-month lease.
However, when he tried to claim complete ownership of the hotel and collect rent from another tenant, he was apprehended on charges of filing false property records.
Then Barreto was arrested after making an attempt to falsify property records.
He was reported to be seeking to transfer ownership of the hotel from its current owners, the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, to himself.