Officials Ask Landlords to Help Prevent Stash Houses
Posted: May 28, 2013 6:23 PM
Updated: May 28, 2013 9:53 PM
HIDALGO COUNTY - Authorities say landlords must do their part to avoid having their properties turned into stash houses.
Robert Garza said his tenants turned his house at 601 Thornwood in Mission into a stash house. Police and Border Patrol agents found nearly 50 illegal immigrants hiding in the house Thursday.
"It caught me by surprise. I didn't expect it ... didn't see it coming," Garza said.
He said the unexpected tenants left a major mess.
"It was nasty. We had just cleaned it up for the new renters. Now we have to do it again," Garza said.
Garza said he never suspected his house was being used to house illegal immigrants.
Garza said a young couple rented the house.
"They just said, ‘we got the money right now. How much do we need to give for the deposit to hold the house?' I told them (the amount) and they said, ‘we got (money) even for the rent. So we'll take it now,'" Garza said.
Police said that should have been the first red flag. They said most tenants aren't so willing to put so much cash down in advance.
Mission Police Cpl. Manuel Casas said landlords should ask for several types of identification from prospective tenants.
"As a landlord you have an investment ... your house, your apartment. It's your money," Casas said.
He said background searches also can help weed out potential criminals.
"Texas DPS has a website that you can use for a criminal background on a person. It's not illegal to do that. If I'm renting out a house, I wouldn't want to rent it to a criminal that brings the elements of a stash house for narcotics and humans," Casas said.
CLICK HERE to visit the DPS criminal background website.
Robert Garza said his tenants turned his house at 601 Thornwood in Mission into a stash house. Police and Border Patrol agents found nearly 50 illegal immigrants hiding in the house Thursday.
"It caught me by surprise. I didn't expect it ... didn't see it coming," Garza said.
He said the unexpected tenants left a major mess.
"It was nasty. We had just cleaned it up for the new renters. Now we have to do it again," Garza said.
Garza said he never suspected his house was being used to house illegal immigrants.
Garza said a young couple rented the house.
"They just said, ‘we got the money right now. How much do we need to give for the deposit to hold the house?' I told them (the amount) and they said, ‘we got (money) even for the rent. So we'll take it now,'" Garza said.
Police said that should have been the first red flag. They said most tenants aren't so willing to put so much cash down in advance.
Mission Police Cpl. Manuel Casas said landlords should ask for several types of identification from prospective tenants.
"As a landlord you have an investment ... your house, your apartment. It's your money," Casas said.
He said background searches also can help weed out potential criminals.
"Texas DPS has a website that you can use for a criminal background on a person. It's not illegal to do that. If I'm renting out a house, I wouldn't want to rent it to a criminal that brings the elements of a stash house for narcotics and humans," Casas said.
CLICK HERE to visit the DPS criminal background website.
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