Page 4 August 11, 2010
The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
Real Estate Today
Squawk Box
Continued from page 1
dential, storage, public, etc.) accounted for 43.4 percent of the total number of arson of-
Financial Crimes Enforement
fenses last year. Mobile property (cars, motorcycles, etc.) was involved in 28.9 percent of
A Guest Commentary by Darryl Diamond
arsons, and other types of property (such as crops, timber, fences, etc.) accounted for 27.7
In November 2009 the Depart-
reports. FinCEN hopes
percent of reported arsons.
ment of Justice, Department of Treasury,
to ensure just, effective,
The average dollar loss for all types of arson was $16,015. For structures, arson
The Department of Housing and Urban
and timely investigating,
damages were $32,364 on average and $7,890 for motor vehicles. Arsons of industrial and
Development (HUD), and the Securities
and if necessary, effective
manufacturing structures resulted in the highest average dollar losses — an average of
and Exchange Commission announced that
punishment. In Addition
$212,388 per arson. The rate of arson was 24.1 offenses for every 100,000 inhabitants of
they are forming an interagency Financial
to this group effort, Presi-
the United States in 2007. The breaking point for a community may be one fire, or it may
Crimes Enforcement Network called (Fin-
dent Obama announced a
be 100, Morabito said.
CEN). This interagency crime force has a
multi agency crackdown
He said arson prevention projects should focus on identifying and removing what
goal of strengthening efforts to combat fi-
aligning the FBI, State Investigators, and
could burn or materials that an arsonist could use to start a fire. To that end, he advised:
nancial crime, especially in the area of mort-
prosecutors at all levels to combat mortgage
Clean up the neighborhood by removing all garbage, material, and excess vegetation that
gage fraud. The growing consensus is that
fraud, and foreclosure rescue scams.
is capable of being ignited. Remove all possible sources of ignition, such as flammable
preventing the continuation of obviously
Since March “Operation Stolen
liquids and unused gas containers. Remove abandoned vehicles. According to the USFA’s
unqualified buyers from getting any new
Dreams” has netted 485 arrests, and charges
NFIRS data and the NFPA, there is an annual estimated average of 25,328 intentional fires
residential loans will be a big help in stop-
against 1,215 defendants who are alleg-
involving vehicles. Most car fires are started to cover up other criminal activity or simply as
ping the potential for continuing the current
edly responsible for over 2 billion in losses.
an act of vandalism. An abandoned car is a target for arson. Secure abandoned and vacant
foreclosure crisis.
While all this coordinated focus is mostly a
homes which are potential arson targets. This may be comprised of additional locks or the
FinCEN also has a goal of the iden-
good thing, banks could get so careful about
boarding up of broken windows or other openings with plywood. Communicate with the
tification and prevention of several types
the potential of fraud in new loans that they
home’s owner that authorities are concerned about the vacant home and explain why. Con-
of mortgage foreclosure rescue and loan
may come to a point of not lending to any-
tact public works to disconnect all utilities at the street. This includes natural gas, water,
modification scams. The above “ FinCEN
body.
and electricity. If there are liquefied petroleum gas tanks, they should be disconnected and
Group” have committed to combating finan-
Most banks have stopped giving
removed.
cial abuse by coordinating information, and
loans on older mobile homes. Some have
Encourage Neighborhood Watch members to patrol these areas and write
focusing their combined resources in their
stopped manufactured home loans alto-
down descriptions, license plates of suspicious vehicles, and potential suspect descrip-
fraud investigations. The Treasury Dept and
gether. Some banks are only lending to good
tions.
Morabito noted that the fire department conducts fire code inspections in existing
FinCEN has been busy the last few months
credit buyers with large “down strokes”.
commercial buildings across the county. He said theses inspections are meant to provide
in alerting various financial institutions to
Let’s hope the powers that be in
a fire safe occupancy for the owners, occupants, and customers that may use the building.
the risks of the emerging schemes related
Washington know what they are doing, so
Owners who would like their building inspected for fire hazards can contact Citrus Fire
to loan modifications. They have distributed
they do not “freeze up” the lending mar-
Rescue.
information on how banks can recognize
ket. Your Real Estate Analyst is Darryl
He said communities can develop a watch program, partnering with their local fire
“Red Flags” that may indicate a loan scam,
Diamond of Diamond Investments Inc. 352-
department, law enforcement, insurance providers, business leaders, churches, and local
and require those banks file a
447-4442.
community groups. Neighborhoods can reduce the likelihood of arson by promoting neigh-
“Suspicious Action Report” (SAR).
I have a free list of over 50 Nature
borhood watches, by educating people about recognizing and reporting unusual activities,
FinCEN is asking the banks filing these
Coast area Foreclosures available for both
and by implementing improved internal and external security for homes and businesses.
SAR s to put “Possible Foreclosure Res-
investors, and owner occupant buyers. I’ll
Morabito said, “Arson will continue to be a problem unless citizens are involved in their
cue Scam” in the narrative sections of these
see you around “The Campus”.
neighborhood. Although we can’t stop all arson, we certainly can reduce the number of
arson fires in the county. Please be aware of what is going on in your neighborhood, and
email news to: news@thenewscaster.com
report any suspicious activity.”
He said a community arson watch program can put the neighbor back into neigh-
Coastal
Hair Port
borhood by creating a sense of cooperation. It brings the fire service, law enforcement, and
citizens together to reduce the crime of arson. For more information about creating an arson
at Plaza 40
Carting
watch program, contact Citrus County Fire Rescue at 352-527-5406.
Shopping Center
10-20-30 yd.
Hwy. 40E, Inglis
Realty
DUMPSTERS
352-212-0405
Sally Price, Realtor
Call for Appointment
Contractors/Homeowners
19 Hwy 40 W.
(352) 302-8556 cell
Inglis
Walk-Ins Welcome
Construction Debris
Big John
Yard Waste - Junk
757 HWY 40 E 5.75 AC $89,000
Demolition Debris
Open 7 Days
Beautiful 5.75 residential (RC1) lot on Hwy 40 in Inglis.
High & dry with large oaks and left to nature. Build your
home in seclusion in the middle and have privacy and
Family Salon for
plenty of nature but still in city limits. Can be entered off
the back thru Elm St and leave the front natural woods.
Men • Women • Kids
Close to fresh & salt water ramps & fishing, equestrian
Perms, Hi-Lites & Color
trails, parks and greenways. Across the street from bike
FAMILY Owned & Operated
Starting at $45
path thru Inglis & Yankeetown. This is an exciting & beau-
Licensed & Insured
Womens Cuts - $12
tiful lot for the nature lover. Bring your horse.
352-465-5020
Clipper Cuts - $8
Sugar Mill Liquor
Captains Cove Outfitters
Lisa VanDeBoe
39 W. Highway 40 - Inglis, Florida
Next to the Pinch-A-Penny store
Broker/Owner
(352) 447-5610, 283-0492 or 283-0493
352-634-0129
north of the Crystal River Mall
www.CaptainsCoveOutfitters.com
See all the listings in Citrus County on our Website
www.plantationrealtyinc.com
Kayak Sales & Rentals
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email: lisavandeboe@yahoo.com
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