Vacant Buildings Copper Stolen
Reprinted here from Saint Paul Issues And Forums
Posted Dec 27, 2006 12:28 pm by Tim Erickson
The following announcement came from the St. Paul Virtual Block Club,
an email list managed by Sergeant Dan Anderson of the St. Paul Police
Department. See below for further information, including information
on how to subscribe.
Tim Erickson
Hamline Midway
- + - + - + - + - + -
FIRE HAZARD ALERT
This alert is being sent to all owners and neighbors of vacant
buildings presently registered with the City of Saint Paul.
In recent weeks, there have been a rash of break-ins into vacant
buildings where the gas lines are stolen for the copper. In several
cases the gas was turned on resulting in huge and very serious gas
leaks. It wasn’t until neighbors began to smell the gas that the
fire department was called. These significant gas leaks can easily
be ignited into a devastating explosion that can not only destroy the
vacant house, but also damage neighboring property as well.
We urge you to immediately do the following:
1. Make sure vacant buildings are completely secure.
Check them regularly and often.
2. Vacant building owners can call Xcel Energy at
651-442-4975 to turn off the gas if you do not
need it. If you turn off the gas be sure to
drain the water to the house to avoid freezing and broken pipes.
3. If a vacant building has been vandalized, notify
the Saint Paul Police by calling 9-1-1.
4. Neighbors should report any suspicious activity at vacant
buildings to the Saint Paul Police by calling 9-1-1.
Your cooperation in this important matter of public safety is
essential, and appreciated. Thank you.
For questions regarding this announcement please contact:
Steve Zaccard, Fire Marshal
Dept. of Fire & Safety Services
100 E. 11th St.
Saint Paul, MN 55101
651-228-6201 Office
651-228-6241 Fax
612-880-5779 Pager
- + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + -
(info about Virtual Block Club)
ALL SUSPECTS ARE CONSIDERED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN COURT
DO NOT USE THIS LIST TO REPORT A CRIME. If you are the victim of, or
a witness to, a crime you should dial 911 for emergencies or (651)
291-1111 for non-emergencies.
To submit information to the list send an e-mail to: sppd-
vbc ( at ) ci.stpaul.mn.us
To unsubscribe from the list send an e-mail to: sppd-
vbc ( at ) ci.stpaul.mn.us with Unsubscribe in the subject line.
If you have any questions regarding this list please contact me:
Sergeant Dan Anderson
Special Investigations Unit
Saint Paul Police Department
367 Grove St
St Paul, MN 55101
Office 651-266-5686
Fax 651-266-5985
dan.anderson ( at ) ci.stpaul.mn.us
Member: International Association of Law Enforcement Planners
---------------------------
Tim Erickson
tim ( at ) e-democracy.org
http://e-democracy.org/blogtop
Posted Dec 27, 2006 12:28 pm by Tim Erickson
The following announcement came from the St. Paul Virtual Block Club,
an email list managed by Sergeant Dan Anderson of the St. Paul Police
Department. See below for further information, including information
on how to subscribe.
Tim Erickson
Hamline Midway
- + - + - + - + - + -
FIRE HAZARD ALERT
This alert is being sent to all owners and neighbors of vacant
buildings presently registered with the City of Saint Paul.
In recent weeks, there have been a rash of break-ins into vacant
buildings where the gas lines are stolen for the copper. In several
cases the gas was turned on resulting in huge and very serious gas
leaks. It wasn’t until neighbors began to smell the gas that the
fire department was called. These significant gas leaks can easily
be ignited into a devastating explosion that can not only destroy the
vacant house, but also damage neighboring property as well.
We urge you to immediately do the following:
1. Make sure vacant buildings are completely secure.
Check them regularly and often.
2. Vacant building owners can call Xcel Energy at
651-442-4975 to turn off the gas if you do not
need it. If you turn off the gas be sure to
drain the water to the house to avoid freezing and broken pipes.
3. If a vacant building has been vandalized, notify
the Saint Paul Police by calling 9-1-1.
4. Neighbors should report any suspicious activity at vacant
buildings to the Saint Paul Police by calling 9-1-1.
Your cooperation in this important matter of public safety is
essential, and appreciated. Thank you.
For questions regarding this announcement please contact:
Steve Zaccard, Fire Marshal
Dept. of Fire & Safety Services
100 E. 11th St.
Saint Paul, MN 55101
651-228-6201 Office
651-228-6241 Fax
612-880-5779 Pager
- + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + -
(info about Virtual Block Club)
ALL SUSPECTS ARE CONSIDERED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN COURT
DO NOT USE THIS LIST TO REPORT A CRIME. If you are the victim of, or
a witness to, a crime you should dial 911 for emergencies or (651)
291-1111 for non-emergencies.
To submit information to the list send an e-mail to: sppd-
vbc ( at ) ci.stpaul.mn.us
To unsubscribe from the list send an e-mail to: sppd-
vbc ( at ) ci.stpaul.mn.us with Unsubscribe in the subject line.
If you have any questions regarding this list please contact me:
Sergeant Dan Anderson
Special Investigations Unit
Saint Paul Police Department
367 Grove St
St Paul, MN 55101
Office 651-266-5686
Fax 651-266-5985
dan.anderson ( at ) ci.stpaul.mn.us
Member: International Association of Law Enforcement Planners
---------------------------
Tim Erickson
tim ( at ) e-democracy.org
http://e-democracy.org/blogtop
posted by Bob at Wednesday, December 27, 2006
9 Comments:
So put a big blue sticker on the front of vacants so vandals know.Oh wait they already do this.Another stupid policy of the City Of St.Paul.
The blue sticker is just like a blue light special for the contractors to come along buy at a reduced price. They have a clip board for a shopping cart and their shopping aisle is the streets of St. Paul.
What the hell does the city expect? They make the building vacant for much more than nothing, then they "brand it" so very thief in the city knows where to go for easily salable slavage material. I'm suprised someone doesn't sue the city over the increased risk of theft that they expose the property owner to.
The neighbors wanted those houses vacant and the city did their bidding, and now that there is a danger of the houses exploding, everyone is upset? St Paul is reaping what it has sewn, and the worst is yet to come, so get used to it.
Puleeeze....most of the vacant buildings in st. paul are due to the owners walking away from them, and the reasons they are doing so have more to do with predatory lending, special mortgages (arms, interest only...), and landlord equity stripping the properties.
The landlords are walking away and stripping the equity, etc. because the city is forcing them out of bunsiness with their predatory inspections dept.
The landlords didn't walk away, they sold out of the business. The city didn't like the way they ran their well kept properties, so they sold them off to people who had no experience at all, and the new guys are the ones walking away. And the neighborhood should be very happy, now they have the rental properties empty. Their wishes came true!
12:45 You are so profound. I never even thought of that, but it is certainly true!
The city gets what they deserve!
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