Can I be evicted for having street signs in my apartment?

I returned home from work and found a "notice to vacate" letter.
The next day I took the letter to the office hoping it was a mistake. I talked to the property manager who had pictures of street signs that were hanging in our apartment. I had come to find out he had written a fake work order in order to get into our apartment to take the pictures. He said that we had stolen the signs from Bonnie Ridge Apartments and this is the reason we are being evicted. We actually found 2 signs (a "Stop" sign and a blue "Private Residential Community" sign) in the dumpster area when we moved in 6 months ago.

Does anyone know if there are real grounds for eviction?

I live in MD, and I know that dumpster diving per se is legal when not specifically prohibited by state or local law.

Both the stop sign and the private signs are stolen property. Doesn't matter where you 'found them', they are stolen and you knew they were stolen. That's possession of stolen property. Since most if not all residential tenancy agreements say you can be evicted for illegal activity, they will have the legal right to evict you.

Next place you stay, I'd advise you not keep stolen property on the premises.

no! you should fight him and get good lawyer and sue him or her!! for undue harassment!!

Looks like that is going to be for a judge to decide, huh?

See nolo.com for diy legal advice in this area.

Not knowing the state you are in, it's impossible to say for sure. However, if he tries to prove it with "evidence" taken illegally, he may not get very far. I assume you can file a complaint against the owner and manager. In MA you could get 3 months' rent for the trespass/violation of quiet enjoyment.

If the signs were stolen, you have stolen property, which, if discovered normally, could be grounds for eviction. He has to prove it.

In most jurisdictions it's a felony to steal a street sign, so it all depends on how believable your "found it in a dumpster" story is. If the property manager sincerely believes you took the signs, he might be within his rights to evict you; again, that depends on your local laws. I think you need to get legal advice.

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