Abandoned Foreclosed Houses Being Taken Over by Criminals
Abandoned foreclosed houses in Queens are being taken over by criminals. A survey conducted by ACORN shows that the areas where foreclosures have been high have reported increased number of criminal activities.
Crime has fallen in only two foreclosure concentrated areas – South Ozone Park and Queens Village. In all of the eight areas with low foreclosure numbers the crime rate dropped. Pat Boone the president of the New York branch of ACORN said that it is common sense knowledge that crime and foreclosure go hand in hand. He said, “Thousands of families across New York have lost their homes to foreclosure. In turn, their communities have lost neighbors who care for their homes and help keep an eye on everyone’s safety.”
The foreclosure numbers are closely linked with figures related to murder, felony, robbery and burglary as well as auto thefts. The foreclosure concentrated localities in Queens had on an average 424 cases more criminal cases than those with low number of foreclosure. In 2008 this showed a spike of 1505 since 2006.
The vacant houses are looted but on top of that the study notes that “the increasing displacement of homeowners leaves neighborhoods without the deterrent presence of concerned neighbors’
watchful eyes that helps to protect adjacent houses from illegal activities. Linda Bowman of ACORN said that the vacant houses are “an invitation for kids to get into trouble.” She said that she had seen many people sleeping in vacant houses in her block. For the safety of the community it is essential that people are not evicted from their houses that are their homes.
The terrible example of two serial rapists can be cited. They had spread terror in southeastern Queens during the summer of 2008 attacking the women over a dozen times in an empty church and other derelict buildings.
It was of little relevance whether the localities were resided in by either those with high or low incomes. The neighbourhoods (Jackson Heights, Kew Gardens, Woodhaven, Jamaica, Hollis, Rockaway and Broad Channel) in Queens that had seen increase in crime had an average income record tallying with those areas with lower number of foreclosed homes.
The survey also linked rise in crime with increase in foreclosures in Astoria, Flushing and Ridgewood. 59-year-old Val Holder of ACORN (executive board member) commented that this link between foreclosure and crime made sense as till now the criminals did not have such easy access to vacant derelict houses.
