Residents in Dyker Heights did not hold back when it came to talking about the squatters in their neighborhood and how they’ve impacted the community.

One neighbor tells News 12 that a squatter destroyed his security camera which cost him nearly $5,000 to replace. Another says that squatters have been stealing from his backyard, including stealing the electricity from his home.

According to New York City’s squatter laws, if the squatter can prove they lived in the home for over 30 days, they can claim rights to the property. In order to remove them from the property, the homeowner needs to go through the court system.

Mayor Adams spoke out at a press conference on Wednesday against the current rise in squatters, stating that action needs to be taken to protect homeowners from people trying to take over their property.

Several city leaders say they plan to file legislation in order to give police an easier time removing squatters from homes.