Dan Seiffert SVP, Accounting | realtors.com
In recent months, there has been a noticeable increase in the theft of tiny homes across various states. The phenomenon, while not widely tracked statistically, has affected several individuals who have chosen this minimalist lifestyle.
One such case involves Monica Badzinski, who discovered her tiny home missing from its plot in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Thieves managed to hitch her house to a vehicle and drive off with it during the night. Fortunately, she was not residing there at the time due to zoning disputes. A neighbor's security camera captured footage of the crime. “He has cameras. He says he saw four men in a UTV and a pickup truck,” Badzinski recounted to Fox 23. In an effort to recover her home, she has offered a $500 reward for information.
This incident is not isolated. A family known on TikTok as @TheBennettGang also fell victim when their custom-built tiny home was stolen during a trip from Ohio to Utah. Thanks to their dog’s GPS collar, they were able to track down their home, albeit damaged.
In another instance from Spokane, Washington, Karin Potter's home was taken from a storage facility but was later recovered with help from community efforts. “It was built through community,” Potter told KXLY News.
Unfortunately, not all stories end well. In Mason County, Washington, an unnamed single mother lost her tiny home along with personal belongings and sentimental items such as her father's ashes.
The rise in tiny-home thefts coincides with increasing interest in this living style. According to Data Bridge market research firm projections, the global market for tiny homes could grow significantly by 2031.
Despite financial benefits like lower costs compared to traditional housing—tiny homes typically range between $20,000 and $50,000—theft remains a concern for mobile homeowners.
Ryan Meagher from Tinybox Systems advises those with mobile units to use wheel locks and trailer receiver locks as preventative measures against theft: “You can put a wheel lock on by yourself...as long as no one can properly hook up to your trailer system without a key or way to unlock the trailer receiver.”
The growing popularity of tiny homes highlights both their appeal and vulnerabilities within this niche market.
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