BOCA RATON, FL — The house was supposed to be empty.
A tip to a Boca Raton Police homeless liaison officer led investigators to a vacant East Boca Raton Road home where police say the rear sliding door appeared forced, the power had been turned back on, and two people had been staying inside without the owner’s permission.
Now, Tyler Knight Weber, 26, and Melanie Maria Thodde, 44, are facing burglary charges in what Boca Raton Police records describe as an alleged vacant-home squatting case.
Weber and Thodde were each arrested by Boca Raton Police and charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, according to probable cause affidavits and Palm Beach County court records. Both were booked into the Palm Beach County Main Detention Center on June 8, 2026.
The case centers on a vacant residence on East Boca Raton Road.
According to the affidavits, a Boca Raton Police homeless liaison officer received information on June 2, 2026, from a confidential source who said Weber and Thodde had allegedly been staying inside the home for several weeks.
Police said the officer reviewed Palm Beach County property records and contacted the owner, who told investigators he had purchased the property in March 2026.
The owner told police the first red flag came from a neighbor.
According to the affidavits, the neighbor contacted the owner around May 19 after seeing people entering and leaving the backyard area of the home. The neighbor reportedly said the activity appeared to be happening mostly between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The owner went to the property the next day and found a man and woman inside, police wrote. According to the affidavits, the owner said neither person had permission to be there. Both left without incident after he confronted them.
Police said the owner also reported that the home’s electrical breakers had been turned off when he bought the property. After finding the man and woman inside, he noticed the breakers had been turned back on and electrical service was being used for air conditioning and outlets, according to the affidavits.
Investigators cited an electric bill as evidence in the case.
Police also said the rear sliding glass door was not secure and appeared to have been forcibly pushed. After the encounter, the owner installed no-trespassing signs and a padlock on the backyard fence, according to the affidavits.
The owner later gave a sworn statement and identified Thodde in a photographic lineup as the woman he saw inside the home, police wrote.
On June 8, police made contact with Thodde near 72 N. Federal Highway. After being advised of her rights, Thodde agreed to speak with police and said she had been inside the residence, but claimed it was only for one day, according to the affidavit.
Police said Thodde told the officer she used the property to store personal belongings and charge her phone. She also said she fell asleep inside and was later awakened by the owner, who told her to leave.
According to the affidavit, Thodde told police Weber was with her inside the residence.
Police later contacted Weber. After being advised of his rights, Weber agreed to speak with officers and admitted he had been inside the home, according to the affidavit.
Police said Weber told them the owner entered the residence, told him and Thodde to leave, and that he complied.
Based on the investigation, Boca Raton Police said they developed probable cause to believe Weber and Thodde unlawfully entered and occupied the unoccupied dwelling without the owner’s permission.
Palm Beach County court records show probable cause was found on June 9, 2026. Bond was set at $1,000 for each defendant, and no-contact orders were entered.
Court records list a 30-day return hearing for July 8, 2026, and an initial case conference for July 30, 2026.
The cases are listed as State v. Weber, case number 50-2026-CF-004299-AXXX-MB, and State v. Thodde, case number 50-2026-CF-004294-AXXX-MB.
The charges are allegations. Neither defendant has been convicted in the cases based on the records reviewed
Review official Boca Raton arrests and mugshots, compiled from local law enforcement booking logs.
