Police damage property to extract burglar

General Landlording & Rental Properties

Police damage property to extract burglar

Landlord · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2016 · 100 posts · 58 votes

This evening, a tenant of ours was notified by the police that a man they were pursuing had entered her home (our property). He was of no relation to our tenant, just happened to be running through the neighborhood trying to escape the cops. Our tenant rushed home but did not have her keys (she'd left them at her house with the door unlocked) so we took keys over to help the police enter. After a long, drawn out process, the suspect was captured and thankfully no one was hurt. However, in the process, the police did some damage (broken doors and broken door frames) and the suspect did damage (to A/C unit, as well as tenant's personal property).

(Ironically, last month the tenant's dog (cane corso) attacked my husband so we required the tenant to remove him from the property for liability reasons.)

My questions: Who is financially responsible for the damages? The police handled things correctly, but even after we provided them with keys they were unable to enter as the suspect had created a barricade with personal property. I am wondering if I should 1) ask police to pay, 2) have tenant file a claim on her renters insurance? and/Or 3) file a claim with my insurance.

Also, for those of you with Class C Properties - are they worth it? I've had this one just under a year and between the dog bite last month and now this, I'm ready to sell. I have an A- I manage from out of state that's been great but this C is a major headache. That said, I don't want to just give up....any advice from you seasoned Class C landlords?

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Investor · Marietta, GA · Member since 2015 · 382 posts · 258 votes

7y

Irony: The dog probably would have deterred the criminal.

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Matt P.
Investor · Columbus, OH · Member since 2015 · 625 posts · 601 votes
7y
@Jay Hinrichs lol I once left an almost empty 5 gallon bucket of paint sitting outside one of my places when I went to get lunch. It had about 3 quarters of a gallon left in it. Someone jacked it in the 20 minutes it took me to run up the street. Your not kidding when you say petty left is like a sport for some people.
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Matt P.
Investor · Columbus, OH · Member since 2015 · 625 posts · 601 votes
7y
@Jay Hinrichs Now that's some regulation I can get on board with. Admittedly, I have been lucky based on some stuff I read on here and hear other places. I do think a lot of that luck can be created by myself or other people doing the same kind of thing. Get your rehabs done fast, screen right and have your financeing lined up if you need it. That's all you can do. That along with having a good cash position for reserves should get it done. I'm speaking from the position of a small time fixer upper landlord that's self manageing with a solid team in place. People investing different ways will obviously encounter different obstacles.
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Ed Nelson
Rental Property Investor · Seal Beach, CA · Member since 2018 · 9 posts · 25 votes
7y
@Sarah Buchanan I am an LAPD patrol Sergeant. When Officers cause property damage in the scope of their duties within the city of LA I tell the property owner to contact city.
The city of LA gets sued for everything. I know a co-worker who pulled a guy out of a burning vehicle and saved his life. He ripped his shirt in the process and the guy sued the city for his damaged shirt. The city paid him the $20 for his shirt. Because it would have cost the city significantly more to take on the case in court.
Every city is different and every police agency handles property damage differently. I am sure you can get your money back if you call the city and ask them the necessary steps and forms to fill out. But you have to ask yourself if hours of your time dealing with city officials is worth a $200 door frame?
Good luck.
2 Reply
Bobby Stener
Rental Property Investor · SF Bay Area · Member since 2018 · 49 posts · 54 votes
7y
I remember your post about the dog. Good thing you got rid of that dog, can you imagine what that dog would do to the criminal that jumped the fence or came bursting into the home!? You might have saved yourself quite the lawsuit with that move.
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Matthew Carlson
Specialist · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 13 posts · 4 votes
7y
Originally posted by @Josh Dane:

@Sarah Buchanan if it’s in Chicago, let me know! I would think you’ll never see your money if you try to get it from the police
If it happens in the city you just call 911, and ask for a supervisor. There is a form for them to fill out, and you can get reimbursed. Now if the offender is the one that actually damaged it in an attempt to flee, they'll instead give you a report for criminal damage to property. Then you either A. pay cash to fix because its easy and cheapest, B. file the insurance claim (you wouldn't), or C. use the report to sue the offender in small claims court (there's no money from which you'd draw your judgement). So you end up doing A.
1 Reply
Josh Dane
Rental Property Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2013 · 100 posts · 85 votes
7y
@Matthew Carlson That is good to know! Never would have thought they would reimburse..
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Jeremy England
Contractor · Pensacola, FL · Member since 2017 · 322 posts · 157 votes
7y
The police will pay your claim, just document the cost and damage and go down to the station that arrested the guy. Im a LEO in my day job and i've never seen a landlord that didn't get compensated. We leave them in the condition we found them or we pay. Easy peasy
1 Reply
Matthew Carlson
Specialist · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 13 posts · 4 votes
7y
Originally posted by @Josh Dane:

@Matthew Carlson That is good to know! Never would have thought they would reimburse..
I'll check for the actual form number this week and shoot you a msg with it, because I want to ensure that I'm giving the correct information.
0 Reply
Rebecca Stuelpnagel
Rental Property Investor · Frisco, TX · Member since 2016 · 22 posts · 12 votes
7y
Yes, file a claim with the city to get reimbursed. We had a garbage truck back into a security gate on one of our properties and the city is paying to get it repaired, just save all of your documentation.
As far as the other question, you will have to weigh the opportunity costs of time and headaches VS the higher profit potential of a Class C property.
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Joe SplitrockPro Member
Moderator
Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
7y
@Sarah B. even in A neighborhoods in Sioux Falls, there have been many situations were people enter properties. Most of the theft in this city is unlocked houses, garages or cars. No clue why people refuse to lock doors, so careless.
I would contact the police and inquire about reimbursement, but ultimately they were just helping a situation that was created by your tenant not locking the door.
I would not file this with my insurance company. It shouldn't cost a ton to fix and I would be concerned about getting my coverage dropped.
Problems like these will happen. The longer you own rental properties and the more you own, the more problems you will have. It just comes with the territory. This really isn't that bad, although I am sure more excitement than you had planned.
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Joe SplitrockPro Member
Moderator
Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
7y
Originally posted by @Matthew Carlson:

Originally posted by @Josh Dane:
@Sarah Buchanan if it’s in Chicago, let me know! I would think you’ll never see your money if you try to get it from the police
If it happens in the city you just call 911, and ask for a supervisor. There is a form for them to fill out, and you can get reimbursed. Now if the offender is the one that actually damaged it in an attempt to flee, they'll instead give you a report for criminal damage to property. Then you either A. pay cash to fix because its easy and cheapest, B. file the insurance claim (you wouldn't), or C. use the report to sue the offender in small claims court (there's no money from which you'd draw your judgement). So you end up doing A.
It is illegal to call 911 for non-emergency because it slows response time for real emergencies. Every police department has a non-emergency number which is easily found using Google. I agree with your assessment that option A, just pay cash and move on is the best choice. I wouldn't even waste time calling the police.
3 Reply
Jonathan G.
Investor · Marietta, GA · Member since 2015 · 382 posts · 258 votes
7y
Matt P. Yes i have rentals and yes I would have had the dog removed as well. It’s still ironic.
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Steve Mccullough
Rental Property Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2019 · 2 posts · 3 votes
7y
@Sarah Buchanan
I have 5 units in the worst of neighborhoods here in Milwaukee. I find distressed properties and get joy being able to renovate them and provide clean, respectable, misty maintenance free properties to tenants who sometimes don’t have great choices at a fair rent price here. I usually get 20+ applications within a week and almost every one of them will have either a felony or an eviction on the their record in the past 5 years. So my choices still tend to be slim to none on quality tenants.
These properties do constantly take my time dealing with late rent, hi turnover, breaking things that shouldn’t break, etc. Though after a few tenants I have found 4 out 5 units with stable renters who keep their units looking clean and only minor issues occurring.
It took time to get there but I think it’s been worth it because the return on investment is more than twice what I can get anywhere else. You’ve certainly had some bad luck but if you have good profit margins I’d try sticking it out another year or two if you don’t mind paying slightly more attention and time on those units.
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Sarah B.
OP
Landlord · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2016 · 100 posts · 58 votes
7y
@Steve Mccullough your method of rehabbing distressed properties and offering fair, clean housing is admirable and definitely a goal of mine! Way to go!
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Matthew Carlson
Specialist · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 13 posts · 4 votes
7y
Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

Originally posted by @Matthew Carlson:
Originally posted by @Josh Dane:

@Sarah Buchanan if it’s in Chicago, let me know! I would think you’ll never see your money if you try to get it from the police
If it happens in the city you just call 911, and ask for a supervisor. There is a form for them to fill out, and you can get reimbursed. Now if the offender is the one that actually damaged it in an attempt to flee, they'll instead give you a report for criminal damage to property. Then you either A. pay cash to fix because its easy and cheapest, B. file the insurance claim (you wouldn't), or C. use the report to sue the offender in small claims court (there's no money from which you'd draw your judgement). So you end up doing A.
It is illegal to call 911 for non-emergency because it slows response time for real emergencies. Every police department has a non-emergency number which is easily found using Google. I agree with your assessment that option A, just pay cash and move on is the best choice. I wouldn't even waste time calling the police.
Roger I'm tracking the not using 911 for non-sense, but this is Chicago. If you are a home owner, renter, building owner, etc. and you needed a Sergeant on scene you'd just call 911. Here not one citizen would think to use our 311 (non-emergency) in order to ask for a supervisor, and the call taker would just dispatch from 911.
Now lets say you own a building, and all those events took place a day prior. The easy way would be just to go to the station desk of the area where it occurred, and speak to a desk sergeant to get that report. But here it still wouldn't matter. Landlord would show up a day or two later at his or her property, call 911 from there, and a supervisor would just get dispatched to handle the job.
Lastly, your last statement is the best as it's the most accurate. You know well enough to not even waste your time just fix the door. You're the landlord the police like the best.
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Account Closed
Eastern Michigan · Member since 2018 · 83 posts · 144 votes
7y
Not sure about the police part but maybe just better screening ahead of time would help... the cane corso should have never been allowed to live at your property.
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Josh Belgard
Rental Property Investor · Baton Rouge · Member since 2018 · 20 posts · 19 votes
7y
@Sarah Buchanan
I had a small wall fire in a condo March 2016. The fire department soaked the entire condo and my insurance paid all except the deductible. My unit needed upgrading and this worked in my favor. Not class C though. I stick to A/B only.
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Sam Shueh
Real Estate Agent · Cupertino, CA · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
7y
File insurance claim. Put it up for sale.
0 Reply
John FortesPro Member
Multi-Family Syndicator · Abington, MA · Member since 2017 · 603 posts · 347 votes
7y
Hope all is well. I understand your frustration during these times. Are you self managing this property and have a property manager for the out of state? Why not look for a local PM to handle the current one that's been the issue?
In the event that you do sell, consider investing in syndications or buy again next to your current out of state. Plenty of ways to get your investment through real estate either hands on or hands off. Stay the course if you can.
1 Reply
Matthew Carlson
Specialist · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 13 posts · 4 votes
7y
@Josh Dane
If it happens in the city ask for one is these to be filled out.
http://directives.chicagopolice.org/forms/CPD-11.719.pdf
0 Reply
Josh Dane
Rental Property Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2013 · 100 posts · 85 votes
7y
@Matthew Carlson thanks!
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