FBI cracks down on foreclosure crimes
Michelle Malsbury, BSBM, MM
October 02, 2009
Millions of homes have been foreclosed since the housing bubble burst. Millions more are pending foreclosure. Banks were bailed out with taxpayer funds and are more skeptical about lending money to anyone who is less than perfect credit score-wise. Buyers who want to purchase foreclosed homes are best to come with cold cash because those who need financing have been experiencing months of waiting for approvals on loans.
Many parties could be considered negligent in this housing debacle ranging from realtors to appraisers to mortgage brokers and lenders to builders and contractors. Wink TV, Channel 5 out of Ft. Myers, Florida announced on one of their recent newscasts that the FBI has stepped in to investigate some of these marginally negligent parties role in this economic meltdown. I say it is about time!!! These people helped to raise the real estate market to unprecedented levels and in a short period of time. Those practices are unscrupulous and maybe even illegal and may be punishable by time in jail.
It was reported by the Greater Ft. Myers Board of Realty that nearly 1,000 homes are being foreclosed in that area each day. Yes, each day! Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada are right in line with those numbers of foreclosed homes too. I don´t know about you, but that is an alarming rate. However, the good news---if there is any such thing as good news---is that that number of half of what it was in 2008. All of those hard hit areas have also noticed an uptick in foreclosed property crime. Some crimes can be attributed to disgruntled home owners hoping to recoup some of their losses. Other crimes stem from totally unassociated parties. Either way, stealing from foreclosed homes is a serious crime and one that is gaining recognition within the law enforcement community.
The FBI is cracking down on people and parties responsible for that vandalism and stolen merchandise taken from foreclosed properties by checking eBay, local classifieds, Craigslist, and local pawn shops. Any suspicious activity in or near foreclosed homes need be reported immediately to the local authorities. Specifically, home owners in properties adjacent to homes that have been foreclosed should be on the look-out for trucks and vans that drive up in the dark of night, maybe even in broad daylight, to vacant properties looking to steal everything from entire air conditioning systems to kitchen cabinets and appliances. These nefarious characters break in and steal all they can. Some neighborhoods that have been the hardest hit have even gone so far as to have the FBI offer rewards for tips leading to the arrest of such parties.
Home owners unite to save your neighborhoods from these emboldened criminals. Please call your local authorities or the nearest branch of the FBI if you note anything suspicious in properties that have been recently foreclosed. The FBI welcomes your help in solving these and other crimes.
References:
Wink News, Channel 5, Ft. Myers, Florida
The Greater Ft. Myers Realtors Association
Many parties could be considered negligent in this housing debacle ranging from realtors to appraisers to mortgage brokers and lenders to builders and contractors. Wink TV, Channel 5 out of Ft. Myers, Florida announced on one of their recent newscasts that the FBI has stepped in to investigate some of these marginally negligent parties role in this economic meltdown. I say it is about time!!! These people helped to raise the real estate market to unprecedented levels and in a short period of time. Those practices are unscrupulous and maybe even illegal and may be punishable by time in jail.
It was reported by the Greater Ft. Myers Board of Realty that nearly 1,000 homes are being foreclosed in that area each day. Yes, each day! Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada are right in line with those numbers of foreclosed homes too. I don´t know about you, but that is an alarming rate. However, the good news---if there is any such thing as good news---is that that number of half of what it was in 2008. All of those hard hit areas have also noticed an uptick in foreclosed property crime. Some crimes can be attributed to disgruntled home owners hoping to recoup some of their losses. Other crimes stem from totally unassociated parties. Either way, stealing from foreclosed homes is a serious crime and one that is gaining recognition within the law enforcement community.
The FBI is cracking down on people and parties responsible for that vandalism and stolen merchandise taken from foreclosed properties by checking eBay, local classifieds, Craigslist, and local pawn shops. Any suspicious activity in or near foreclosed homes need be reported immediately to the local authorities. Specifically, home owners in properties adjacent to homes that have been foreclosed should be on the look-out for trucks and vans that drive up in the dark of night, maybe even in broad daylight, to vacant properties looking to steal everything from entire air conditioning systems to kitchen cabinets and appliances. These nefarious characters break in and steal all they can. Some neighborhoods that have been the hardest hit have even gone so far as to have the FBI offer rewards for tips leading to the arrest of such parties.
Home owners unite to save your neighborhoods from these emboldened criminals. Please call your local authorities or the nearest branch of the FBI if you note anything suspicious in properties that have been recently foreclosed. The FBI welcomes your help in solving these and other crimes.
References:
Wink News, Channel 5, Ft. Myers, Florida
The Greater Ft. Myers Realtors Association
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