Cops say squatter in S.F. mansion-for-sale sold $300k worth of stolen art

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle City building inspector Michael Gunnell speaks with Vicki Edwards...

San Francisco police say they foiled an art thief who, while squatting in a multimillion dollar Presidio Heights home that was for sale, stole and sold hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of paintings, most of which were quickly recovered.

On Saturday, around 11 p.m., officers responded to reports of a suspicious person at what Officer Carlos Manfredi, an agency spokesman, described as a “mansion” on the 3800 block of Washington Street.

Though police would not confirm the exact address, the only house for sale on the block, according to online listings, appeared to be an 8-bedroom, 7-bath “single family home” listed at just over $17 million — and that’s after being cut from the original asking price of $25 million when it first went on the market in 2012.

Manfredi said Jeremiah Kaylor may have been squatting for as long as two months, but it was unclear how he’d gotten access to the home.

Video: Man Arrested For Stealing $300K In Art From Vacant San Francisco Home

At the home, officers contacted Kaylor, 39, of Dragoon, Ariz., who told police that he was in the process of buying the home and produced fraudulent legal documents to back up his claims, Manfredi said.

Manfredi said that Kaylor didn’t appear to have a criminal history in California and it was unclear whether this was a single incident or if he had a habit of inhabiting, and stealing from, high-priced homes while they’re on the market.

“For a person to generate legal documents, you’ve got to be a little more sophisticated than your average squatter,” Manfredi said.

The officers tried to contact the home’s owner and the real estate agent responsible for the home, but given that it was close to midnight on a Saturday, Manfredi said, were unable to do so.

On Sunday, investigators got a call from the listing agent who informed them that he was the only person with keys to the place and that Kaylor was, at the very least, trespassing. The agent went to the home and performed a “citizens arrest,” detaining Kaylor until officers arrived.

As police got there, for the second time in as many days, Kaylor had a painting next to a moving van outside of the home and the agent informed the officers that 11 paintings were missing from inside the home, Manfredi said. They were valued at well over $300,000, he said.

One of 11 pieces of art allegedly stolen by a man squatting in a San Francisco mansion for up to two months who was arrested Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015. One of 11 pieces of art allegedly stolen by a man squatting in a San Francisco mansion for up to two months who was arrested Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015. Photo: Kale Williams Photo: Kale Williams Image 1 of / 39 Caption Close Cops say squatter in S.F. mansion-for-sale sold $300k worth of stolen art 1 / 39 Back to Gallery

Though the art was valued well into six-figure territory, Manfredi said Kaylor had hocked the pieces for well below their value.

Between Sunday and Monday, investigators were able to track down nine of the 11 missing pieces, which Manfredi said Kaylor had sold through social media sites like Facebook and to local pawnshops. Investigators said they had “good leads” on the other two pieces and were confident they would locate them soon.

Kaylor was arrested and booked on suspicion of burglary and 10 counts of burglary.

Kale Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: kwilliams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfkale