Empty Houses Lure Crime

Elba Hernandez, a divorced woman with no children, has lived in this neighborhood in Greenacres near Sherwood Forest Boulevard for nine years.
"It's very scary. And truthfully they could break in, take whatever they need," Hernandez said.
Her neighborhood, Villa Del Trios, is dotted with homes in foreclosure. Empty homes. Some for rent, some for sale.
And in a condo development downt the street called Lakeview Gardens, you'll find more vacant units sitting empty, some of them also in foreclosure. The foreclosure signs are in the windows.
These neighborhoods have been hit by the sagging economy. The foreclosures can be a draw for burglars and thugs, who view the empty houses and condos as easy targets.
"The homes that are empty, they could take the appliances, get money for drugs," Hernandez said.
The foreclosed properties are an issue for law enforcement, because they can create a ripe environment for break-ins.
"It's definitely a problem that we've seen and that we have to deal with. We did see an increase in homes that are foreclosed become targeted," Sgt. Tom Gendreau with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said.
The latest Census Bureau figures show 4.5% of the homes and 16.6% of the rental apartments and condos in Florida are vacant, among the highest rates in the nation.
And in south Florida, specifically Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, 3.6% of the homes are vacant, while 13.1% of the rental apartments sit empty.
Elba, meanwhile, says her home is equipped with a burglar alarm. But she can't help but feel uneasy, living alone in an area with empty homes.
"You never know who's gonna show up. They will find some way, somehow to try to get in," she told us.