Wild parties orchestrated by teenagers have caused millions of dollars in damage to vacant homes across San Diego County, leaving homeowners and realtors stunned and frustrated. Since August, at least 15 to 20 such illegal gatherings have been reported, with instances of extreme vandalism including smashed windows, burn marks from fireworks, and holes punched through walls.
One homeowner, retired Navy Lt. Troy Esaki, reported a quarter-million dollars in damages from a single party. Realtor Vanessa Munoz described entering a property after one event to find shattered glass, burn marks on walls, and a human-sized hole in a wall, indicative of someone being thrown against it. She noted that the damage could have been far worse, as no one was physically injured and the house did not catch fire.
Police are aware of the escalating issue, with Lt. Cesar Jimenez of the San Diego Police Department stating that organizers are sometimes charging an entry fee and even employing security and DJs. The teens are believed to be sophisticated in their methods, scouting vacant houses through online listings like Redfin and attending open houses to identify potential party locations.
However, law enforcement faces significant challenges in making arrests. Jimenez explained that it is difficult to identify and prove who is responsible for organizing the parties, as attendees often claim ignorance. "If we can identify the person who’s throwing the party, a lot of times that’s very difficult," Jimenez told NBC San Diego. "Because most people are going to say, ‘Well, I didn’t know. I thought the person throwing the party owned the home.’ And so that’s going to be part of our burden of proof."
Despite these hurdles, police have identified individuals involved in some of the parties and are working to build cases for prosecution, with at least one case involving a juvenile. Realtors involved in selling these damaged properties have expressed a desire for harsher consequences for those participating, even if they weren't the main organizers. "In my mind, I’m like, ‘Well, it doesn’t matter, right?’ I mean, if you’re here and you know that you’re in here illegally, shouldn’t you still be prosecuted?" asked realtor Karla Vidrio.