Man caught trying to make toast in home up for sale

Police arrested a man they say took down a for-sale sign outside an empty home and then moved in because he had taken a liking to it.

Officers were called to the house in the 4800 block of South Othello Street at about 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday after they were told someone was living in a house that should be empty.

Police arrived and found that someone had taken down a real estate company's sign and dumped it in the yard.

Officers entered the home through an open door and found a 23-year-old man in the basement who was trying to light a cigarette pack on fire.

The man told police that he liked the house and decided to move in.

Officers said the man, who appeared to be high on methamphetamine, had set up a grate over the cigarette pack, and then put a piece of bread on the grate, in an attempt to make some toast.

Police booked the man into the King County Jail on property destruction and trespassing charges and contacted the home's owner, who lives outside of the United States.

Cox Media Group