A University of Sydney couple returned from a holiday to find a stranger squatting in their apartment —using their belongings, accessing their finances, and leaving the home in disarray.
On February 17, 22-year-old Denoora Lyu discovered 30-year-old Dylan Patrick Yelkovan shirtless inside her Pyrmont unit. He appeared unfazed and made no attempt to flee when Lyu and her boyfriend, William Qu, entered the residence.
“I thought I was in the wrong place at first,” Lyu told 7NEWS. “But then the shock hit me. A stranger was standing there like he belonged.”
Yelkovan had been squatting in their apartment for roughly a week, according to transaction records and the condition of the home. He had rummaged through their belongings, worn Qu’s clothes—some stained—and used their desktop computer to browse the internet and play music. He also used Qu’s bank card, though the funds were later reimbursed by the bank.
When confronted, Yelkovan casually packed his belongings and exited the apartment via the balcony, believed to be his point of entry. He was later arrested with help from the building manager.
The apartment, used temporarily by the couple while a friend was away, had been meticulously organized before their trip. On return, every storage box had been opened, and many items—such as electronics and clothes—were used or damaged. The couple had to discard most of what had been touched and paid approximately $2,000 for a hotel and professional cleaning.
Yelkovan pleaded guilty to squatting in their apartment and was sentenced to nine months under an Intensive Correction Order (ICO), avoiding jail time. His sentence includes supervision, drug abstinence, and restrictions from returning to the property.
In addition, he pleaded guilty to separate charges involving reckless driving, deception, and violating a restraining order, with a second ICO extending into next year.
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