Furnished Showcase Homes For Sale Targeted By Thieves

Police in several East Bay communities are investigating a string of burglaries targeting unoccupied homes that are up for sale.

Investigators say it appears the thieves are going after "staged" homes, full of expensive furniture, bedding and decorations.

As the economy has soured, and the job market has dried up, it seems criminals are getting more inventive. Now, one more frustration for people trying to sell a home.

"Unfortunately, in my case, the best paintings were taken, the best furniture was taken, the things that would be really hard to replace," said real estate Barbara Cors. "Interestingly, all the towels in three bathrooms were stolen, and all the really expensive bedding."

Cors says the targeted Orinda home was burglarized a week ago. Police said they don't know who did it, but this type of robbery is becoming a trend.

"They could be possibly driving, looking for homes for sale, looking for for sale signs in the yard. They could also be going online and looking at homes for sale in particular areas, and doing the virtual tours with the internet," explained Orinda Police Sergeant Andre Charles.

Another possibility might involve a face to face encounter with the real estate agents. "So, what we think happens is people come into the open houses, and case the properties," said Sgt. Charles.

It may be that they leave a door or window unlocked so they can get back in.

It has happened twice in Orinda, four times in Piedmont in mid-March, and at least twice in Oakland. Police say all the cases could be related.

Most of the items stolen belonged to the home stager. Piedmont police say in one case, the stager lost $11,000 worth of furnishings.

Sgt. Charles explained, "It's like any crime. It's a crime of opportunity. And if the opportunity is there, they're going to take it."

It's not the first time criminals have targeted homes for sale in this tough real estate market. Within the past year, there was a rash of thefts of copper piping, even the metal guts of air conditioning units from foreclosed homes in eastern Contra Costa County.

The string of robberies has Cors worried: "You know, the market is fairly challenging right now. So, you know to have something like this happen and it makes everybody feel bad. The seller, the stager, the other agents, and now we're worried. Is this a growing trend?"

This has also happened in other parts of the country.

So now, police are searching on-line for items for sale that could match the stolen property. They're also warning real estate agents and nearby residents to be vigilant, and to report any suspicious activity around homes for sale.