Burglar who secretly lived in crawlspace of family's home sentenced to three years in prison

OREGON CITY, Or. -- A man who lived for almost three months in a crawlspace under a Happy Valley townhouse was convicted of Burglary in the First Degree by a Clackamas County jury on Tuesday and sentenced to 36 months in prison.

The intruder, Beniamin Bucur, 41, constructed an elaborate living space complete with lights, a kitchen and a gaming area. He would come and go while the family living above him was unaware of his presence.

The jury deliberated for approximately 20 minutes before finding Bucur guilty. Prior to trial, Bucur pled guilty to possession of methamphetamine.

Deputies responded to the residence on Southeast Old Town Court on Sept. 3, 2025 after a neighbor noticed an intruder entering the crawlspace and called police.

With the resident's permission, deputies used a Halligan tool to breach the crawlspace door. Standing just inside the door, they found Bucur, who was promptly arrested.

Deputies discovered an elaborate, well-lit living space and a network of power cords that connected to the resident's electrical service.

"Using the cover of darkness, the defendant snuck into the crawlspace of this family's home, moved in his belongings, including multiple televisions, gaming consoles, cooking burners – he even hung string lights – racking up the electricity usage while the family unknowingly footed the bill," said Deputy District Attorney Tiffany Escover, who prosecuted the case.

Investigators also found a sword, multiple knives and a pipe with methamphetamine residue.

Directly above Bucur's makeshift encampment, the home's occupants, a married couple and their young daughter, went about their lives unaware that Bucur could hear some of their intimate conversations.

"For two and a half months, Beniamin Bucur was the roommate the family never knew they had," Escover said.

Bucur faces additional burglary charges in Washington County for an unrelated incident. He was arrested there while on security release awaiting trial in this Clackamas County case.

Bucur has a criminal history going back more than 20 years, which includes several burglary, drug and theft convictions.

Crime scene photos courtesy of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

Clackamas County Circuit Court case 25CR49474