A Mira Mesa homeowner is facing more than $3,000 in damage after approximately 60 teens and young adults allegedly broke into his newly renovated rental property and threw a party that lasted more than two hours.
The incident happened Saturday night at a vacant house on Parkdale Avenue in Mira Mesa. The property had recently been renovated and advertised for rent when the homeowner discovered dozens of uninvited partygoers inside.
The homeowner, who asked to be identified only as “Ryu” for fear of retaliation, said he had just finished remodeling the property.
“Just remodeled. Trying to do things for the family, then for this to happen, it was a punch in the gut,” Ryu said.
Despite the pouring rain, dozens of young people gathered shoulder-to-shoulder inside the home’s garage and side yard.
Ryu said he returned to the property around 9:30 p.m. to collect paint and tools he had left behind when he discovered the crowd.
“I’m yelling, ‘Hey! I own this place. I’m the owner. You guys need to get the hell out!’” Ryu said.
But the partygoers did not immediately leave.
Ryu said he spent approximately two hours pacing outside the property, feeling helpless as he waited for San Diego police to arrive.
According to Ryu, someone had stepped on a hose reel outside the home, broke a bathroom window and climbed inside. That person then opened a door to allow the rest of the crowd to enter.
By the time police arrived, most of the partygoers had already left. Officers searched the property but made no arrests.
Inside, Ryu discovered extensive damage to the home he had worked to renovate. A door had been kicked in, paint was splattered throughout the front room, a window was broken and smoke detectors had been destroyed. The event took an emotional toll on Ryu.
“Definitely frustration, anger. Thinking about my family and all the hard work I put into this,” Ryu said.
Ryu estimated the damage at more than $3,000. He said the repairs will delay his plans to sign a lease with his first tenant.
“I felt just disrespected,” Ryu said.
Despite the damage, Ryu said he doesn’t place all the blame on the young people who attended the party.
“I don’t blame the kids. I don’t blame them. Having kids, I believe it starts within the home,” Ryu said.
The incident is part of a larger problem involving unauthorized parties at vacant homes across San Diego.
NBC 7 Investigates first reported on the issue in February and tracked 15 vacant house parties over a two-month period during the summer.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.