Pair Pinched In Alleged Attempt To Reclaim Home Lost In Foreclosure; Removed New Owner's Stuff From Premises After Breaking In, Changing Locks; Written Apology Saying They Believed Bank's Actions Were Unwarranted Led To Arrest

In Yavapai, Arizona, The Arizona Republic reports:

• Two men were arrested [] on suspicion of theft, burglary and criminal damage after they are accused of attempting to reclaim a home just outside of Prescott and removing all of the legal owner’s property from the home, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.
  
  Authorities said the men, identified as Brent Ten Pas, 57, and Steve Armstrong, 60, are suspected of putting up signs reading “Private Property/No Trespassing” around a home in the 300 block of Marapai Road in Gloom Creek, which were noticed by the legal homeowner on Feb. 15.
  
  The homeowner purchased the home from the bank in August 2012, furnished the home and was using it as a secondary residence, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The homeowner went to residence on Feb. 15 and found the signs.
  
  According to authorities, a note on the front door directed the homeowner to vacate the property immediately and warned that any remaining furniture would be placed in storage and further access would be considered trespassing. The note was signed with Ten Pas and Armstrong’s names, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
  
  The men had apparently boarded up the home, installed a security camera, changed the locks and placed the victim’s belongings in a Prescott Valley storage unit, authorities said.
  
  Sheriff’s Office deputies discovered that Ten Pas and Armstrong had been ordered to leave the home in February 2012, as it had been foreclosed upon by the bank, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
  
  On Feb. 21, the victim received a letter from the two men which included an apology and explained that they believed the foreclosure was unwarranted, stating that the victim “had just bought a stolen car,” authorities said.
  
  Deputies obtained warrants for Ten Pas and Armstrong on Feb. 28, at which point they were arrested.

Source: Officials: Men tried to take back foreclosed home near Prescott.