Police: San Francisco mansion squatter stole $300,000 in art

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco police say they arrested a man who was squatting in a mansion on the market and sold several paintings from the home valued at more than $300,000.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday that officers found the 39-year-old Arizona man at the home in the ritzy Pacific Heights neighborhood after receiving reports of a suspicious person.

Officer Carlos Manfredi says the man told police he was buying the home, but a real estate agent said he was trespassing. The agent also said 11 paintings were missing.

Police responded to the home Sunday and found the man with a painting next to a moving van. He was arrested on suspicion of burglary.

Authorities say they tracked down nine of the paintings and expect to find the other two soon.