Homes for Sale/ Vacant Homes/ Code Enforcement Issues
To: Neighborhood Presidents, Crime Watch coordinators, HOA Management
From: CPD Crime Prevention Unit
Re: Please take notice of unusual activities in “Homes for sale” and vacant homes
The Police Department would like for you to pay extra attention to vacant homes for sale, as well as those that are lived-in. Vacant ones particularly have the potential to harbor criminal behavior close to your home. These homes can be used by juveniles or homeless persons to “hang out” and/or do drugs, have sexual relations, or damage the actual home. Other criminals actually steal the copper from the home or its a/c units, or appliances.
The City of Charleston Police Department would like for you to keep an eye on these properties and to not hesitate in calling Police if there appears to be someone there and it looks suspicious. We would rather you err on the side of caution.
ALSO IF YOU FEEL THESE HOMES ARE IN VIOLATION OF CITY LIVABILITY/NUISANCE ORDINANCES, REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE WITH THE ADDRESS AND ANY PERTINENT FACTS OR PHOTOS. WE WILL WORK TO GET CODE ENFORCEMENT INVOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
What is “Suspicious Activity”
Activity which is obviously criminal :
Violence, Weapons, Stealing, Vandalism, Graffiti, Screams, Gun Shots.
Also activity which MIGHT be a crime happening or about to happen
– Prowlers walking around the homes
– Juveniles (single or group) during school hours, immediately after, or late at night
– People looking into vehicles
– Vehicles driving without headlights at night
– Riding a bicycle aimlessly and looking at all the homes
– Vehicle parked at a vacant residence
What to do if you own a vacant property?
Consider ways to make it look occupied - Keep blinds closed, use lights on timers, keep lawn mowed, ask a neighbor to watch the house and call Police if necessary. Have a neighbor park an extra vehicle in the driveway.
Please don’t hesitate to at the following numbers:
Charleston Police 577-7434, CrimeStoppers 554-1111 or 911.
Charleston Police Department –Crime Prevention Unit 180 Lockwood Blvd., Charleston, SC 29403 /843-769-7407
