Homeless Man Builds “Ticking Time Bomb” Tiny Home After Stealing Digger to Find Treasure
A homeless man has built a tiny home branded a “ticking time bomb” after stealing a digger to find “treasure”.
Steven Irwin, 41, caused almost £12,000 worth of damage when he tore up a hillside in Seattle city park with an excavator that had been pinched.
Building the Tiny Home
Irwin was arrested and charged with property destruction following the incident last October.
But the treasure hunter has now returned to the site – and this time built a shoddy cabin.
He claims to be caving out a “mine” to search for gold – insisting he has permission to be there.
Ticking Time Bomb Concerns
The makeshift home has multiple generators, fireplaces, propane heaters, a washing machine – and even a treadmill.
Andrea Suarez of We Heart Seattle, a homeless outreach group, told KOMO News: “He is digging into the slopes, building structures, tearing down trees, undoing thousands of dollars in repairs.
“There’s also a risk for him being in that environment. There are smells of kerosene, propane, and gasoline – there are three different forms of fuel down here, wires everywhere.
“It’s a ticking timebomb.”
Continued Search for Gold
But Suarez warned Irwin plans to do just more than live illegally on the grounds.
She said: “He’s dreaming up that this is a gold mine, mining for diamonds, and that he is going to find gold and strike it rich.”
Local Response and Frustration
Irwin is now using power and hand tools to clear away areas of the park in his bizarre mission to find gold.
Neighbours of the park have called on cops to intervene.
Brian Hartman told the outlet: “This guy is just getting away with it, and I don’t understand that.
“We are absolutely frustrated. We need some civility here, we need police action.”
But Suarez said Irwin has no intention of packing up.
Call to Action
She said: “This is a call to action by law enforcement and Seattle Parks and Recreation to do something.
“I’ve even offered to pay for his first six months of housing, and he said, ‘That’s great. I’m still going to keep my cabin in the woods‘.”