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Thieves Target Homes for Sale

By
Industry Observer with Retired

Thieves Target Homes for Sale

 

When the unemployment level is high or the economy is sluggish, thefts from homes for sale tend to increase. The favorite targets for thieves are vacant properties including, especially, foreclosures. Vacant foreclosures are preferred because the previous owners are gone and it is less likely that someone knows or cares what personal property is missing.

When your washing machine is not working or the refrigerator dies, and there is no available money, it is easy to get what is needed from a vacant home. It is not unusual to see missing appliances and air conditioning compressors. Sometimes, the light fixtures and hot water heater are also gone.

I purchased a nice home at a trustee sale and before settlement, the appliances and the kitchen cabinets were removed and the house was trashed. The police found the missing items and identified the thief as a drug dealer. He told the police that the previous owner told him he could take the stuff. No criminal action was taken. And, do you think I was going to file a civil action against a drug dealer?

A different kind of thief works occupied homes that are for sale. It is easy to pose as prospective home buyers at open houses where identity is seldom verified. The distracted agent does not even see the search for drugs, jewelry and credit cards. Many agents will show homes in response to a simple phone call. One person stays with the agent while the other person searches for items to steal or unlocks a window or door for easy entry a little later.

Some of the thefts are not even noticed and a high percentage of them are never reported to the police. Real estate professionals and home owners need to be alert and take security precautions that will make it more difficult for thieves. 

What is your most interesting story about personal property being stolen from a home for sale?

 

 

Dahlia, Brookside Gardens, Dahlia Show IMG_7154

Photograph by Roy Kelley

Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs

 

 

 

 

Posted by

Roy Kelley, Retired, Former Associate Broker, RE/MAX Realty Group

Gaithersburg, Maryland  

Comments (22)

Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Hi Roy, never really thought about this-I know more about vacant homes being the target for squatters than possible targets of property theft.  Anything is possible when people are suffering.

Aug 08, 2013 10:27 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thank you very much for your comments. It is always good to hear from you.

Have a great day and an outstanding weekend.

 

Dahlia, Brookside Gardens, Dahlia Show IMG_7167

Photograph by Roy Kelley

Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs

Aug 08, 2013 10:56 PM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

Thanks for the heads up. I am so sorry to hear that no action was taken against the drug dealer. SAD.

Aug 08, 2013 11:38 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Roy, unfortunately in sectors of our City, you will see vacant homes being targeted and vandalized.     It is sad to see.

Aug 08, 2013 11:47 PM
Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR
Berkshire Hathaway California Realty - Beaumont, CA
(909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning

Hi Roy,

Once I was selling a REO and it had a special lockbox on it so the agents had to call to get the code and had to give me their name and DRE Number. About 8:00 pm an agent called and asked about mine as they were on the street looking at one a few doors down. I told him it was pending and he asked if his clients could see it anyway in case it fell out of escrow. He gave me his name and DRE #. The following morning my contractor called and said that the 2 fancy mirrors and both light fixtures in the bathrooms had been stolen during the night but the weird that was that the house was locked up tight and no sign of break-in.

Another time an agent was showing one of my REO's and I walked in to do something and no one expected  me (the listing agent) to be there. The house was empty except for about 12 boxes of tile in the garage that matched the rest of the house. As I am walking in, a man is walking out with the tile. "What are you doing I?" and he said he was taking the boxes of tile in the garage as they were left there. "Yes they were left for the new owner." He proceeds to tell me that this home belongs to the bank so it doesn't matter anyway because how would they know and it is just a REO house. He further says "And what does it matter to you anyway?" I asked him how he got in and he points to his agent who is inside. The agent makes excuses and tells the man to put all the boxes back inside which he did and then they left quickly. I removed the lockbox and put a new one on with a different code. I should have reported the agent.

I think many people and (agents too) feel it it OK to steal from the bank because it is not a real person so who cares. This is the wrong attitude and stealing is still stealing even if it is a REO.

Aug 09, 2013 01:06 AM
Yolanda Cordova-Gilbert
Richmond, TX

Roy,

 We have had a lot of thefts in new construction especially when no one lives in the neighborhood yet. I do not blame you for not filing charges against a drug dealer. I hope you have a great weekend!

Aug 09, 2013 08:35 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Roy, I think they think nobody will notice or care. I have seen all kinds of things removed from vacant homes. It just makes me angry to see it.

Aug 09, 2013 09:14 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Your comments are very much appreciated.

Have a very special weekend.

 

Dahlia, Brookside Gardens, Dahlia Show IMG_7163

Photograph by Roy Kelley

Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs

Aug 09, 2013 10:58 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Roy- when my husband was building homes in Houston, he had to hire a guard to patrol at night and as it turned out, it was friends of the guard who ended up steeling all of the appliances.  

Aug 09, 2013 11:38 AM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Roy, great post alerting all to one of the prevalent problems that is plaguing many areas these days.

Aug 09, 2013 10:11 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Roy as always good advice.....once I sold a historic house that had Chrystal door knobs and when the new owner walked in all the door knobs where gone.....

Aug 10, 2013 01:15 AM
Athina Boukas
Virginia Capital Realty - Richmond, VA
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)

This is also why insurance rates are so for vacant homes. Unfortunately I have found many foreclosure homes are not being properly maintained/inspected by the managers.  I've walked into many where the doors were unlocked. 

Aug 10, 2013 03:31 AM
Tony & Darcy Cannon
Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT
The C Team

Roy, It is sad, but it is true that people do this to homes that are vacant.  I guess it is a great example that when you take these listings you really do need to be careful to check up on them regularly. 

Aug 10, 2013 04:01 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

It is always good to receive your feedback. 

I hope you are having a very special weekend.

 

Dahlias, Brookside Gardens, Dahlia Show IMG_7164

Photograph by Roy Kelley

Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs

Aug 10, 2013 06:12 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

There was a lot more of that back when the crash happened and so many new homes were half finished. People went in and stole everything, including the copper wiring!

Aug 10, 2013 07:28 AM
Julie Baldino
Front Door Realty - Vancouver, WA
Opening Doors to New Chapters...

Definitely copper wiring/metals are stolen most often in our area.

Aug 10, 2013 08:40 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Roy, in this area it was copper wiring stolen in most vacant homes....one in my neighborhood that went into foreclosure and the house was trashed.

Aug 11, 2013 03:42 AM
Lloyd Binen
Certified Realty Services - Saratoga, CA
Silicon Valley Realtor since 1976; 408-373-4411

Roy, it's much more pleasant for me to view your photos of flowers than to hear about thefts in homes for sale.  Nonetheless, homeowners, lenders and agents need to understand the risks and be vigilant.

Aug 11, 2013 03:37 PM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!
Roy I agree so sad but definitely true Thanks for sharing. Keep it up!
Aug 24, 2013 01:23 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I scheduled this blog to post again, with a new photograph, on August 2, 2016.

Jul 18, 2016 03:11 AM