Biloxi police urge property owners to file trespass letters
Biloxi Police Department is urging homeowners, landlords and business owners to file trespass letters with the department as a proactive step to protect property, the department said in a Facebook post.
A trespass letter, also called a trespass warning or notice, is a formal document issued by a property owner or by law enforcement on the owner’s behalf that identifies specific people who are no longer permitted on the property, the department said. Once a letter is on file with the Biloxi Police Department, officers can arrest a returning individual for criminal trespass without requiring the owner to sign a new complaint each time.
The department said trespass letters can address known problem individuals as well as loiterers or people found on the property outside authorized hours. The tool can be especially useful for businesses dealing with after-hours trespassers because it gives officers clear authority to remove or arrest people who have no legitimate reason to be on the premises.
The department said the letters are free, placed on record with Biloxi Police and are intended to empower property owners. Contact the Biloxi Police Department at (228) 435-6107 or visit www.biloxi.ms.us/police to learn more or to begin the process. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
