Incredibly sneaky new trick squatter used to steal $1.6m condo from its rightful owner, according to cops

By NATASHA ANDERSON, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 21:04, 31 July 2026 | Updated: 21:05, 31 July 2026 A squatter tried to steal a $1.6 million Arizona condo by posing as the rightful owner with whom he shares a name. Nathan Lucas Underwood, 26, snuck into the luxury Scottsdale property on April 17 after obtaining a spare key for the unit from the building concierge, KTVK reported. The unit belongs to a 52-year-old Nebraska man, also named Nathan Underwood, and his business partner Farhan Khan, according to a direct criminal complaint obtained by the Daily Mail. The concierge gave the 26-year-old the key after he presented a copy of his ID, which matched the owner's name on file, police said. He then met with a realtor at the home on April 22 and tried to sell the property by entering into a 'residential listing contract,' the complaint said. Underwood told the estate agent he wanted to 'sell quickly' and offered to accept $1.3 million, even though the unit was worth at least $300,000 more, authorities said. He is also accused of stealing $14,000 worth of clothing and decorative items from inside the residence, the complaint said. Underwood was arrested on July 27 and subsequently charged with second degree burglary, aggravated taking the identity of another person and fraudulent schemes and artifices.  His bond was set at $10,000. He is due in court for a preliminary hearing on August 6.  Nathan Lucas Underwood, 26, was arrested on July 27 and subsequently charged with second degree burglary, aggravated taking the identity of another person, and fraudulent schemes and artifices Police say Underwood snuck into this condo complex in an attempt to sell a $1.6 million condo that did not belong to him Underwood first contacted the realtor in February through Zillow, police said. The realtor claimed that Underwood exhibited several 'red flags' during the selling process. He never asked about the realtor's commission and, during their on site meeting, parked in the visitor parking lot – instead of the spot associated with the unit.  He also allegedly gave the agent a 'crazy' story about acquiring the unit through an LLC, investigators said.  Police say Underwood registered a company called Zella LLC in the state of Arizona on March 2.  Investigators believe he did this to mimic the owner's company, Zella Inc, under which the property was purchased. The elder Underwood first noticed something was wrong on April 20 when his cleaning crew was unable to access the unit because the spare key was missing. He then received a fraud-prevention notice at his home in Nebraska from a title company alerting him that someone was trying to sell the condo. The owner flew to Arizona on April 27 and found that the unit had been burglarized. He reported the incident to police the following day. The Scottsdale condo actually belongs to Nebraska resident Nathan Underwood, above, and his business partner The younger Underwood returned to the building's homeowners association office on July 2 to meet with the realtor about selling, investigators said. Complex security recognized that he was not the real owner and photographed his ID, while the realtor documented his phone number and a description of his car. Underwood was arrested outside a Bank of America branch on July 27 with a meth pipe in his pocket, police said. During his interviews with detectives, Underwood allegedly 'began rambling about conspiracies about people hacking his phone and his bank account.' He also allegedly said: 'I’m not doing fraud. I get it. It looks like I am very much.' The alleged home theft scheme comes just three months after Underwood was arrested in Phoenix for an alleged aggravated assault, police said. He allegedly pointed a gun at a man who was trying to repossess his Volvo. After his arrest, Underwood was released to a psychiatric facility, court records show.