Teens Throw Illegal Parties in Vacant San Diego Homes

Partygoers charge cover fees and cause thousands in damages to properties

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Teenagers in San Diego County have been throwing unauthorized parties in vacant homes listed for sale or rent, causing thousands of dollars in damages. The parties are advertised on social media, with the addresses revealed in secret group chats. Partygoers often charge a cover fee at the door. Real estate agents have reported incidents of fireworks, fights, and holes in the walls after these illegal gatherings. While police are aware of the issue, they say it's difficult to make arrests since the organizers are hard to identify.

Why it matters

These illegal parties pose serious risks to vacant properties, which can lead to significant financial losses for homeowners and real estate agents. The parties also raise concerns about public safety, as the large gatherings and unruly behavior could result in injuries or other incidents. The trend highlights the challenges faced by the real estate industry in securing vacant listings and protecting them from vandalism and unauthorized use.

The details

An investigation by NBC7 found that at least six illegal parties have been held in vacant San Diego homes since August 2025, with five occurring within 32 days. The homes, many of which have a median listing price of $899,999, have suffered thousands of dollars in damages. Partygoers have set off fireworks, knocked holes in walls, and caused other destruction. Teenagers advertise the parties on social media and charge a cover fee at the door, with the addresses revealed in secret group chats.

  • Since August 2025, at least six illegal parties have been held in vacant San Diego homes.
  • Five of these parties occurred within a 32-day span.

The players

Vanessa Munoz

A San Diego real estate agent who had a $7,000 damage bill after an illegal party was thrown at one of her listings.

Karla Vidrio

A real estate agent who told NBC7 about a recent party thrown at one of her vacant listings, where more than 30 people were inside and about 20 were waiting to pay a $10 cover charge.

Cesar Jimenez

A San Diego Police Lieutenant who said the department is aware of 15 to 20 illegal vacant house parties across the county in the past year, but identifying the organizers is very difficult.

Cara Ameer

A California real estate agent with Coldwell Banker who says "security concerns are real, and not every seller wants an open house because of it."

Matthew Bent

The manager at Lappen Security, who recommends installing battery-powered security cameras at entry points to deter illegal parties in vacant homes.

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What they’re saying

“I was shocked. I work a lot of listings and have had some squatters here and there, but never have I ever in my 11 years in this business had parties being thrown.”

— Vanessa Munoz, San Diego real estate agent (Realtor.com)

“There were more than 30 people inside and about 20 people outside waiting to pay their cover of $10 to come in. They were high school kids. Definitely high school kids. Very young.”

— Karla Vidrio, Real estate agent (NBC7)

“They're saying, 'Hey, party at this house, $10 cover at the door,' and so they're making money. Once they get in to access the house, they charge people at the door. They'll have a security person there. They'll have a DJ or something like that.”

— Cesar Jimenez, San Diego Police Lieutenant (NBC7)

“Preventing parties in a vacant home comes down to removing the vibe that it's an unmonitored space. I recommend installing a few battery-powered, cloud-based cameras like an Arlo or Ring at the primary entry points and the backyard.”

— Matthew Bent, Manager at Lappen Security (Realtor.com)

“Treat a listed vacant home as a liability, not an asset. Once neighbors report teens entering, a plaintiff attorney will argue you had notice and you failed to act.”

— Chad Cummings, Attorney (Realtor.com)

What’s next

San Diego police say they are continuing to investigate the illegal parties and work to identify the organizers, with the goal of making arrests and deterring future incidents.

The takeaway

These unauthorized parties in vacant homes highlight the growing challenges faced by the real estate industry in securing properties and protecting them from vandalism and misuse. Homeowners, agents, and law enforcement must work together to implement stronger security measures and enforcement to prevent these types of illegal activities from occurring.