A bizarre squatting incident in Florida has gone viral after police bodycam footage captured the moment officers confronted a group of people claiming they had every right to stay in a property — because, as they put it, “our white cousin said we could.”
The incident took place at a small apartment complex where neighbors had complained about strange activity coming from one of the units. According to reports, the original tenant had moved out weeks earlier, but lights and noise had recently been noticed inside the vacant room. When officers arrived, they found the door slightly open — and that’s when the situation took an unexpected turn.
The footage shows officers knocking before a man in a hoodie cautiously opens the door. “Hey, what’s going on?” one officer asks. The man replies confidently, “We’re staying here — our cousin said it’s fine.” When the officer presses for details, things quickly get awkward. “Who’s your cousin?” the officer asks. “Uh… she’s white. Her name’s Becky,” the man answers, hesitating. “She said we could stay here while she’s gone.”
The officers exchange puzzled looks before one replies, “There’s no Becky listed on the lease — this place has been vacant for weeks.” The man insists again, but when asked for proof — like a text, key, or rental agreement — he admits they don’t have any. “She said she’d handle it,” he adds nervously.
At this point, officers notice mattresses, clothes, and food inside the apartment, indicating the group had been living there for several days. The scene gets tense as backup arrives, and the officers calmly explain that entering or staying in a property without authorization is illegal. “You can’t just move into a place because someone told you it was okay,” one officer states.
The video has since gone viral, with millions of views on TikTok and YouTube. Viewers can’t get over the strange excuse and the calm but firm way officers handled the situation. “The ‘white cousin Becky’ excuse might be the funniest thing I’ve ever heard,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “These squatters were so confident until the questions started coming.”
In the end, the officers asked the individuals to pack up and leave immediately. Property management was called to secure the unit, and while no arrests were made, police issued trespassing warnings to everyone involved. “We try to handle these situations peacefully whenever possible,” a police spokesperson later said. “But the law is the law — you can’t just move into someone else’s property.”
Experts say squatting cases have been on the rise across the U.S., with many using fake stories or forged paperwork to justify their stay. “It’s not uncommon for people to make up elaborate excuses when caught,” said housing attorney Jason Cole. “But this one definitely takes the cake.”
As the video continues to circulate, social media users are calling it “the most polite eviction ever caught on camera.” Whether viewers find it funny or frustrating, one thing’s for sure — this clip proves that truth really is stranger than fiction.
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