On Sept. 5, 2025, Clackamas County sheriff’s deputies in unincorporated Clackamas County, Oregon, discovered 40-year-old Benjamin Bucur living inside a condominium crawl space outfitted with a bed, lights, television and other makeshift amenities; deputies arrested him on suspicion of burglary and possession of methamphetamine.
Key Takeaways
- Deputies were contacted after 11 p.m. by a witness who saw a man enter the rear of a condominium complex and follow him to an open crawl-space door.
- Inside the crawl space officers found a bed, lighting, chargers, a TV, a fan and extension cords run through vents to supply power.
- A pipe with white residue tested positive for methamphetamine, leading to a possession charge in addition to suspected burglary.
- The suspect was identified as 40-year-old Benjamin Bucur; bail was set at $75,000 after booking at Clackamas County Jail.
- Records show Bucur had a prior conviction in May 2010 for burglary and auto theft in Stanislaus County, California.
Verified Facts
Clackamas County deputies say they were alerted shortly after 11 p.m. when a witness observed a man park and walk behind a building. The witness followed and reported light coming from an open crawl-space door. When deputies breached the locked access, they found the concealed living area.
Investigators documented numerous items arranged for daily use: a mattress, hanging lights, a television mounted to a beam, a fan and multiple chargers. Authorities reported extension cords had been routed through vents to power devices.
Law enforcement located what they described as a pipe with white residue inside the space. That residue tested positive for methamphetamine, and the pipe was cited in the sheriff’s office statement as the basis for a drug-possession allegation.
Deputies took the 40-year-old into custody on suspicion of burglary and methamphetamine possession. The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office reported Bucur was booked into the county jail with bail set at $75,000.
Public records cited by authorities indicate Bucur previously lived in Patterson, in California’s San Joaquin Valley, and was convicted in May 2010 on burglary and auto theft charges after being stopped in a reported stolen vehicle containing electronics and other property.
Context & Impact
The incident highlights safety and security concerns in multi-unit housing: unauthorized access to service or crawl spaces can create fire and electrical hazards, and complicate building security.
Beyond immediate safety risks, the case raises questions about homelessness, housing access and how property managers detect and respond to unauthorized occupants. Local officials may review building access procedures and inspection routines in response.
Legally, an investigator’s determination that someone was living inside an unapproved space can trigger burglary or trespass charges alongside any separate criminal allegations such as drug possession.
Official Statements
“He had taken significant steps to improve the conditions of the crawl space and was obviously living inside.”
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office
Unconfirmed
- How long Bucur had been living in the crawl space prior to the Sept. 5 discovery is not yet confirmed.
- Whether the property owner or management suspected unauthorized occupancy before the witness report is unclear beyond their statement that nobody was supposed to live there.
- Motives for choosing that location or whether Bucur had other places to stay remain unverified.
Bottom Line
Authorities say a man had converted a condominium crawl space into a concealed living area and was arrested after a witness alerted deputies; charges include suspected burglary and methamphetamine possession. The case underscores building-safety vulnerabilities and the need for prompt reporting of unusual activity around residential complexes.