Does anyone know if this violates any kind of renters rights to take away his security deposit as more of a punitive measure than a recovery of actual loss?  

Seriously, "the cops have better things to do".So all in all, we were kinda at a loss of what to do, and now they are on Section 8, they aren't behind on rent, we get paid, life is great.

Most people have clauses in their leases that state tenant must report items needing repair rather than fixing them.

I get to HD, start talking to the manager, surprisingly everyone sprung into action, they are calling to get the surveillance video, calling other stores, attempting to block the items from being returned w/o the receipt, which I had by the way.In the mist of all these advocates working for me, i get a text.

Taxes on this property if in Montgomery county would be aprox 1100 to 1400 a year, insurance would run 800 year  so you need to make sure there is not lots of deffered maintenance ,new heating system 3000 and new roof 6000, etc. you could eat up your cash flow quickly on these items.

If you are not in the right market you will lose money, rationalize the losses, and lose more money, get frustrated, and give up.  

I've got my inflation/deflation hedge and I've got my equity out so I can't take a loss on principle and I can deploy it in the event of a downturn...that's the easy part.  

You mentioned information, what specific items are you referencing? 

(Although, our duplex more than covers the loss, this property was a means for us improving our financial situation and allowed us to get into the investment game).

Many PM's go =out of business because they front repair items for their owners.. only to have the owner tell them to pound sand and move the property somewhere else thereby stiffing them for cost they fronted..