Vacant homes a target

Officials, community members step up efforts to protect empty houses from vandalism, theft.

The Southfield Police Department is sending the message that vandalism and break-ins of vacant homes won't be tolerated.

Officials have recently established a task force to combat the problem. Southfield's building department, code enforcement, Realtors and neighborhood associations are all working together to report any suspicious behavior in neighborhoods to police.

"We're taking a hard line against break-ins and squatters living in vacant homes. It's a crime. People are trying to take advantage of a poor economy and we won't stand for it. We're going to be all over these people like stink on a skunk," Police Chief Joseph Thomas said.

Southfield has more than 900 vacant properties, up from 673 in August 2006, according to a report by the Neighborhood Services Committee, which has been studying neighborhoods for 18 months.

Like many Metro Detroit communities, Southfield faces an aging housing stock, escalating foreclosures, an increase in rental homes because of the depressed housing market and vacant homes. Establishing a task force to address the break-ins was one of the 26 recommendations the committee presented to the council in early June.

The building department is providing a list of vacant properties to code enforcement officers who monitor homes to ensure that lawns are mowed and homes are maintained and secure. If residents notice individuals looking at a home without a Realtor, making multiple trips to the property or staying for several hours, they are asked to notify police.

That's what resident Paul George, 62, did when two houses in his neighborhood were broken into for copper.

"We have to look out for the best interest of our community. We are the ones who have to live here," George said.

The Police Department arrested six people for stealing copper from vacant homes in late May after getting tips from homeowners. Light fixtures, carpet, washers and dryers have also been stolen from homes, according to Councilman Ken Siver, chairman of the Neighborhood Services Committee, who has also seen paint thrown around vacant homes by vandals.

To view the online article, please click here.

####

Safeguard Properties is the largest privately held field services company in the country. Located in Cleveland, OH  and founded in 1990 by Robert Klein, Safeguard has grown from a regional preservation company with a few employees and a handful of contractors performing services in the Midwest, to a national company with over 425 employees.  Safeguard is supported by a nationwide network of subcontractors able to perform any requested superintendence, preservation, and maintenance functions, as well as numerous ancillary services in the U.S., the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.