Thieves on the prowl to rob vacant homes

BY CHRISTINA SOSA, Californian staff writer
e-mail: csosa@bakersfield.com | Saturday, May 20 2006 8:10 PM

Last Updated: Saturday, May 20 2006 8:51 PM

A vacant house might not seem like an ideal target for crooks. After all, what is there to take?

But vacant homes are regularly a gold mine for thieves, who take everything from new kitchen appliances to expensive front doors and even window panes, according to local police, Realtors and home builders.

"It's such an absolute nightmare," said Sheila Villanueva, a senior construction manager with large builder Castle & Cooke. "We've had this happen on a weekly basis. We're getting hit."

Villanueva said she's seen large and expensive refrigerators and even water heaters disappear. The problem is worst in new neighborhoods where buyers haven't moved in yet, she said.

"We can't wait to get people in their homes because they (thieves) have a tendency to stay away a little more," Villanueva said.

Vigilant neighbors can be very helpful to police in these types of crimes, according to Bakersfield Police burglary detective John Talbot. He said he worked on a case of theft at an unoccupied home where a neighbor who was able to get a license plate number led to police identifying a subject.

Talbot said the problem isn't just in newly built homes or one particular part of town. But he has noticed an increase in recent months, though he also said these type of crimes often go in cycles.

"In the new construction it's primarily the stoves and microwaves," Talbot said. "In the vacant homes that are being sold, we've had refrigerators, washers and dryers."

Betty Byrom, owner of People Realty, said four of her listings have been hit in the last four months. She estimates that in some cases the thieves have made off with items worth around $7,000.

"They take all the appliances, but they take the front doors, too," Byrom said. "It's happening all over."

Byrom said she hasn't noticed any particular part of town that has been targeted more, and plenty of her homes have been in established neighborhoods.

The thieves hitting Byrom's homes seem to choose the homes with the fancy front doors, she said. And she has a theory on who would be interested in stealing a door.

"I hate to say it, but I think it's someone in the industry, because you have to sell it somewhere," Byrom said.

Police are considering that possibility, Talbot said.

"I believe it's more than just a couple of groups, but we've identified two separate groups at this point," Talbot said.

The theft of an appliance can be a major annoyance as well as a financial loss, Byrom said. She has seen appliance theft cause damage to floors and cabinets, delay escrow and nearly cost a home owner their buyer.

"My last one, we couldn't close escrow for three weeks," Byrom said. "The people almost backed out."

The most important step homeowners can take is to write down the serial numbers of all their appliances, Talbot said. That way, if the police recover the merchandise, they can identify it as stolen and return it to the owner.

Tips to keep your empty house safe