I was reading an article the other day that stealing copper wiring is a major problem in many large cities costing billions of dollars.
Getting it all put back together costs more than the materials.
It is a sign of the times unfortunately. They have been stealing the bricks, aluminum siding, copper piping and wiring out of abandoned houses in Detroit for years. I work in a real estate related industry and you never know what will be missing from a foreclosed house. It is not always outside thiefs who are taking the stuff. A lot of times the people losing the home are the culprits.
I have seen houses where the entire kitchens have been removed--appliances, fixtures and cabinets--leaving a bare room. Bathroom fixtures are also a popular item in the newer homes. Not to mention furnaces and air conditioning units. Take a look on CL and search high end (Viking, Sub Zero, etc.) on CL--those good deals are likely appliances stolen out of foreclosed homes. The owners being foreclosed on have no right to basically destroy the homes that they are losing. That is why a lot of these foreclosed homes are being sold for such low prices.
The people doing this think that the bank will not come after them but the bank has the right to pursue the deficiencies on the loans and any damage they cause to the homes for up to seven years after the foreclosure. A lot of people don't realize this and that is why they do some of this stuff.
Okay, off my soapbox!
Tim
PS--Nice score on the juke and pool table!
