Squatters Move Into Kentucky Vacant Property with Forged Documents
A Bowling Green couple didn’t just break into a home. They moved in, added their own padlocks to the gate, and when deputies showed up, handed over paperwork claiming they owned the place.
That paperwork was forged.
On July 5, 2026, a realtor filed a complaint with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office after noticing something was off at a Jenkins Road property listed for sale. Deputies arrived and found the gate secured with a chain and four padlocks. Only a standard realtor lockbox was supposed to be there.
They flew a drone over the property. Inside, four people were found: Justin Meredith, Brittnee Meredith, their daughter, and a friend.
Justin told investigators he had purchased the home back in 2025. He even had the documents to prove it.
Investigators looked closer. The documents were forged.
According to WBKO, Justin now faces 2nd Degree Burglary, 3rd Degree Burglary, 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief, and 2nd Degree Forgery. Brittnee is charged with 2nd Degree Burglary. Both were arraigned Monday morning.
Under Kentucky law, 2nd Degree Burglary is a Class C felony carrying 5 to 10 years in prison. And here is what most people do not know: the law applies whether or not anyone was living there at the time. A vacant home is still a dwelling under KRS 511.030.
Why This Matters
This case is not a one-off. According to The Zebra’s 2026 burglary report, residential burglaries are down 19% nationally in the first half of 2025, but vacant properties carry a completely different risk.
Homes without visible security are 300% more likely to be broken into. And only around 11% of burglary cases ever get solved.
The Bowling Green arrest happened because a realtor noticed something wrong and called it in fast. Most sellers are not that lucky.
Cases like this have a pattern. When a Cedar Rapids man broke into a home and walked out with a handgun, the window of vulnerability was the same: a property that looked unmonitored from the outside.
If you want to stay on top of home security incidents like this as they break, there is a channel worth having in your feed.
What Sellers and Realtors Need to Know
A “For Sale” sign tells the whole street the home might be empty. That is not paranoia. That is exactly how people like the Merediths pick targets.
Vacant homes on active listings are being occupied in Texas, Indiana, Illinois, and now Kentucky. It is more common than the headlines suggest.
And the risk does not stop at squatting. When a repairman was found dead inside a vacant Atascocita property, it was a reminder that an unmonitored empty home can become something far more serious than a burglary case.
A few things that actually help: install cameras with remote access, switch from a standard realtor lockbox to a trackable smart lockbox, register the vacancy with local police, and keep the property looking occupied with timed lights, a maintained lawn, and closed blinds.
The Jenkins Road home had none of that. A realtor box and a chain were the only things standing between a listed property and a family that moved in for months.
Security cameras still work. A Montana burglar was caught entirely because of footage already installed on the wall, no advanced system, just a camera at the right angle. That is often all it takes to change the outcome.
Wrapping Up
This wasn’t a smash-and-grab. It was a calculated, long-term occupation with fabricated ownership paperwork. The only reason it ended quickly was one realtor who paid attention.
If your home is listed and sitting empty right now, treat it like an active security risk, not a passive waiting game.
Have you ever noticed something off near a vacant or listed home in your neighborhood? What did you do? Drop it in the comments. Someone reading this might need that exact advice.
For more home security news and local crime coverage, visit Build Like New. Follow us on X (Twitter) and Facebook for updates as these cases develop.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
