Thieves are continuing to prey on foreclosed properties, removing copper, appliances, and other fixtures, and leaving behind a mess for those who have to sell it.

Foreclosures often become prime targets since they are vacant. The Memphis Area Association of REALTORS® recently warned its members of scams involving thieves who remove “For Sale” signs from yards and then bring a truck into the garage of the home, making it appear as they are moving in to the property. They then remove such items as AC systems, kitchen appliances, light and plumbing fixtures, and the copper from walls. 

"We've had it where they took the cabinets, the sink, the toilet, the lights, everything," real estate pro Mindy Creech of RE/MAX on Track, told the McClatchy-Tribune Regional News.

Thieves are leaving behind damage to the properties too. For example, the McClatchy-Tribune Regional News describes one incident where thieves broke into a vacant home and started cutting the copper in the wall while the water was still turned on. The water was left running for four days, even running into the streets, before a real estate agent discovered it. 

Copper has become even more of a target, with copper prices rising by more than a $1 per pound in the past year.

State laws and city ordinances are trying to make it more difficult for thieves looking to make a profit off of stolen appliances and metals they remove from foreclosed properties. For example, some states or local governments have made it illegal to sell air conditioner parts unless you have a valid HVAC license. The Memphis Association of REALTORS® also worked with chambers of commerce, home builders, and other groups to get local governments to impose a 10-day, tag-and-hold procedure for types of copper, like pipe, so that when metal is sold locally, the seller is required to show an ID and have a thumbprint made.

Source: “Foreclosed Properties Become Magnets for Thieves,” McClatchy-Tribune Regional News (Aug. 4, 2011)