A 32-year-old Long Island man has been arrested for allegedly changing the locks on a vacant home, turning on the electricity and renting out the property as if he were the landlord, authorities say.
Vernon Glass first got into the empty Rosedale Road home April 1, police say. He went on to switch the locks, get the electrical system working and rent it out to three people. He allegedly pretended to be the landlord, and collected several months of rent from the victims before he was arrested following an investigation.
But Glass, who was arrested Thursday on burglary charges, said he is actually another victim in the case. He and his attorney told News 4 on Friday that he was given a fake lease before he and his family moved into the home.
"We are a victim of basically someone giving us a rental property," Glass said.
Nassau County Police Detective Vincent Garcia disputed Glass's account, saying "anyone we arrest claims innocence." Garcia added that Glass had prior arrests for similar offenses.
An attorney for the home's real owner also said in a statement to News 4 that "at no point in time did the owner enter into a lease agreement or give permission to Mr. Glass... Unfortunately, this is a scam that is all too common, and we are pleased the authorities are handling the matter."
Detectives ask anyone who feels they may have been victimized by Glass to call the Fourth Squad at 516-573-6453.
