If they take over you're home while your there it is called a home invasion and in some states there is a castle doctrine. Police or not, you have the right to

If they take over you're home while your there it is called a home invasion and in some states there is a castle doctrine. Police or not, you have the right to defend your property as many states consider this kind of invasion to meet the bar for "grave bodily harm" to the owner with or without an actual threat. The way this works in particular is by taking advantage of squatters rights. These are ostensibly used to protect people from summary eviction and give them a chance to get their lives together before they're kicked out. Usually they're used to help people who can't pay have 30-60-90 days (law depending) to figure something out. What these people do is break into a home that appears unoccupied. This could be because you're an investor and are screening tenants, you left for vacation, etc. After some number of days (depending on law) the squatter has "rights" to live there and it goes from criminal to civil. Since you did nothing in those days it's assumed you allowed it. It's exploitation by a class of slightly smarter criminal. Exploitation none the less. Yet, there's nothing you can do about it that wouldn't inadvertently effect the people who actually need the laws to make sure they don't come home one afternoon with their stuff on the sidewalk. That's why as a homeowner it is absolutely important you police your own property, make sure it appears occupied, maybe have friends occasionally visit, etc. Even if you have camera evidence it will be assumed you did nothing about it in that timeframe and it will still become civil. Your house will likely be trashed as revenge and suing a bunch of strung out junkies won't get you anywhere. These laws have also been exploited when good hearted people lend a couch to someone in need. Stay for long enough, and now you have to go to court to evict them. Really a shitty situation for people. Especially grandma and grandpa renting out a house to supplement their social security.