Some Thieves Are Stealing The Entire House
CHICAGO (CBS) -- You've heard of burglars breaking into homes to steal, but what about stealing the whole home?
A Richton Park couple found themselves victims of that very scenario.
And as CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman found out, when they went for help they learned they weren't alone.
"He stole my property," said a woman who asked not to be identified.
She said the alleged theft happened while she and her husband tried to work through a foreclosure. They had to move out, but they were investigating ways to hold onto the place.
"My husband would drive by frequently," she said, "He was driving by, and he saw cars in the driveway."
According to attorneys, this wasn't a case of a man going into a place to steal stuff. They say he stole the whole home.
His name is Rufus Sparks. Authorities say he tracked the vacant home and forged the owners' names on paperwork that transferred their title to him.
Investigators are looking into how the documents were ever notarized to give a veil of authenticity.
"We explore everything. We look at everything," Assistant State's Attorney Rocell Cyrus said.
They look at everything, including the rest of what she calls an elaborate scheme.
Her office says Sparks got a "Certificate of Occupancy" for the home and put it up for rent on Craigslist to make money. His alleged take: more than $30,000 from tenants there and other places.
"This actually occurred at a couple of other properties. It came to our attention through the investigation," Cyrus said.
It's an investigation that began only because the victim CBS 2 interviewed went to one of the Cook County State's Attorney's Community Justice Centers. The centers focus on mortgage fraud.
"We have an increase in cases," said State's Attorney Anita Alvarez. "It hurts because we are all suffering in this economic crisis. In essence, the victim, the homeowner, is victimized twice."
The woman who went for help agreed. "It's a painful place not to be able to go home, and to see other people in the house you could be living in," she said.
She went to police many times before finding help at the Community Justice Center. The bank's been informed about the alleged criminal activity.
If you have a mortgage fraud case, and you need help, you can go to one of four sites the Cook County State's Attorney established. The main number to call is (773) 674-2728.
