You should retain an attorney,l both to get your property back and because you may have grounds to sue the landlord:1) No, the landlord or its agent may *not* hold your property for an unpaid utility bill--or  past due rent, or damages to the apartment, or any debt--unless and only to the extent that you gave the landlord a security interest in that property (i.e. you provided it as collateral for the debt).2) You can only be evicted in a court proceeding, with proper notice. If you were simply harassed and threated to leave, there is a good chance the landlord committed an improper eviction against you and you may therefore have a legal claim against the landlord. Good luck.