A Little Nosey Can Be a Good Thing
A seriously ill, elderly woman in West Boca has been recuperating for some time in another state, leaving her home of 14 years here temporarily vacant. The home is in the middle of a lovely block, surrounded by many other houses.
Her relatives recently came to check on the house. As soon as they walked through the house, they saw that their mother’s house had been broken into during her absence.
But it turned out to be worse than that. The house was a filthy mess. Graffiti was scrawled around the kitchen, including the N-word and references to a satanic cult. When the relatives found personal effects that could not possibly belong to their mother, they realized that this was not just a break-in. Her house was being lived in by one or more intruders.
When police came and went through those personal effects, they found an ID belonging to a young man from Wooster, Massachusetts, along with a Circuit City employee badge. They also found a used plane ticket from Boston to South Florida suggesting that the squatter may have been living in the house for some weeks. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
No one in the neighborhood ever called the police while this home was occupied by one or more squatters.
The number of vacant homes is rising all over South Florida, including West Boca. It’s a sign of the times, caused by people abandoning homes that have more debt than equity, homes that are in foreclosure limbo, and sellers who had to move elsewhere before they were able to find a buyer for their home here.
Police say vacant homes everywhere have become targets for the homeless, for drug dealers and users, and for those seeking places to hang out.
In this deteriorating climate, it would be good if all of us paid a bit more attention to what’s going on in our immediate neighborhood. If you know an owner is away or has moved out and you see activity in their house, call the police.
And when you go away or move out and your home is vacant, let your neighbors know and ask them to keep an eye on your property.
We all need to become more pro-active neighbors in this worsening economy.
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Comments
You have to be a good neighbor to get a good neighbor.
I've had neighbors who bolt into their house, averting their eyes to avoid having to acknowledge a 'hello'.
I also have had neighbors who were friendly and we watch out for each other all the time.
In my experience, you reap what you sew with neighbors and with life.
Posted by: just me | December 27, 2008 8:19 PM