TL;DR
James Jacobs operates ASAP Squatter Removal, a privately run service that surveils properties and expels people living there without authorization using makeshift weapons and militarized tactics. The company has drawn attention for dramatic imagery and limited public records while raising questions about law enforcement limits and housing shortages in the Bay Area.
What happened
James Jacobs runs ASAP Squatter Removal, a Bay Area business that offers paid, do-it-yourself eviction services to property owners who find people living inside vacant houses. Jacobs’ operation reportedly conducts surveillance, boards up properties, and sometimes moves in temporarily to prevent return. Materials on the company’s website include striking images — including photos of Jacobs with a sword and a grenade and photos of armed people and a small child — some of which appear to have been sourced from documentaries, stock sites and unrelated news coverage. Jacobs confirmed a recent job in Oakland and posts videos of some work, but declined to provide documentation for all claims, citing nondisclosure agreements and legal counsel. ASAP is part of a small but growing cottage industry in California; other firms such as Southern California’s Squatter Squad were identified in reporting. Public records show the business is not registered with the California Secretary of State, though Jacobs says registration is pending.
Why it matters
- The rise of private squatter-removal services highlights gaps between housing demand, slow civil eviction processes and police limitations in the Bay Area.
- Use of armed-looking imagery and makeshift tactics raises safety and legal concerns for both occupants and contractors.
- Limited public records and reliance on nondisclosure agreements make oversight and accountability harder to assess.
- The phenomenon reflects broader tensions over vacant housing, underbuilding, and the region’s homelessness crisis.
Key facts
- James Jacobs operates ASAP Squatter Removal, which offers paid eviction services across the Bay Area.
- Company materials show Jacobs posing with a sword and a grenade; website images include people with firearms and a young child; some images were sourced from stock, documentary, and news material.
- The reporting confirmed at least one recent job in Oakland and videos showing Jacobs and contractors at properties.
- Jacobs declined to provide proof of some removals, citing nondisclosure agreements and advice from his lawyer.
- ASAP Squatter Removal is not registered with the California Secretary of State, according to public records; Jacobs says registration is underway.
- Other private firms providing similar services exist in California, including Squatter Squad in Southern California.
- California law allows squatters to seek ownership after five years; formal eviction processes can be time-consuming and costly.
- Oakland police say officers will investigate calls about possible squatters and may refer landlord-tenant matters to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
- The sheriff’s office said it cannot intervene without a valid court order and urged property owners to rely on legal processes.
What to watch next
- Whether state or local regulators review or take action concerning private squatter-removal businesses and their tactics.
- Potential legal challenges tied to specific removals; Jacobs cited nondisclosure agreements and lawyer guidance, but broader legal outcomes are not detailed in the source.
- not confirmed in the source: Whether ASAP Squatter Removal will complete official registration and what oversight (if any) will follow.
Quick glossary
- Squatting: The act of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied building or land without the permission of the owner.
- Forcible detainer: A type of legal action to remove occupants from a property when they do not have a legal right to remain; distinguished in the reporting from unlawful detainer.
- Unlawful detainer: A civil legal process landlords typically use to evict tenants who remain on property without legal right; often requires court proceedings and sheriff enforcement.
- Non-disclosure agreement (NDA): A contract that prohibits parties from publicly sharing specified information, which can limit what participants disclose about a transaction or action.
Reader FAQ
Is ASAP Squatter Removal operating legally?
Jacobs says he uses legal tactics and cites property and criminal laws; the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office says it cannot intervene without a court order. Full legal status of specific actions taken by the company is not confirmed in the source.
Is the company registered with the state?
Public records show ASAP Squatter Removal is not registered with the California Secretary of State; Jacobs says registration is in progress.
Will police remove squatters immediately when called?
The Oakland Police Department said officers will investigate and may refer landlord-tenant issues to the sheriff; the sheriff’s office typically acts after a court order is issued.
Are there other private squatter-removal firms?
Yes; reporting identified other companies, including a Southern California business called Squatter Squad.
“The average squatter,” says James Jacobs, “has no melee experience.” No familiarity with katana swords or other bladed weaponry. No training in kendo, iaido, or other martial arts. If anyone…
Sources
- The sword-wielding man hired to kick squatters out of empty Oakland homes
- Bay Area homeowners hiring a sword-wielding man to help …
- Homeowners hiring a sword-wielding man to help kick …
- Sword-wielding man offers his services to help Bay Area …
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