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Brick Thievery

Brick Thievery

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PostMar 20, 2010#1

I was just reading Michael Allen post about bricks thieves. I'm sure you're all aware of the damage brick thieves do to our city's building stock .....

my question for the forum is this: does anyone have any creative ideas for stopping brick thieves? Seriously ... I wonder if a creative solution could be found.

i'm actually curious about this .. please no "joke" suggestions....
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PostMar 20, 2010#2

It's simply eyes on the street that would do it. The problem is that where much of the brick thieves operate is not very populated - there's no one there to see them do it. Some places have started staging vacant homes with big LCD TV's/etc. and putting cameras in to catch burglars...so, putting some remote cameras in vacant, deteriorating homes that would be ripe for rustling might work. The best option is to secure the building and not make them susceptible to such things. Thieves target homes with a collapsed wall or that are clearly unstable and knock out a corner.
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PostMar 20, 2010#3

I wonder if the bricks could be treated with something to make stealing them impossible. ... I doubt it .. just a thought.
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PostNov 11, 2013#4

I drive through Union Avenue every day and a block north from the Blossom House I have noticed since the last 1 week that that there is growing area of missing bricks on the western aspect of 5264-66 Vernon Avenue. This is visible from Union avenue. Its a beautifully proportioned house (unfortunately a liquor store is nesting right next to it) , It is painful to watch a few more bricks disappear every day. The house is clearly been left to the elements but is still sturdy and sound where it counts.
It appears to be owned by Urban Assets LLC .
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PostNov 11, 2013#5

who's the alderperson here? would it help to report it?
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PostNov 11, 2013#6

Its the 26th ward I believe. I wrote to Alderman Frank Williamson.
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PostNov 11, 2013#7

We still don't know who Urban Assets LLC is. The city doesn't even know. It's not McKee or the Roberts brothers.
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PostNov 11, 2013#8

Alex brings up an interesting idea with remote cameras.

I've tweeted out options a couple of time during relevant conversations, and tagged SLMPD/Ald. French/Mayor Slay/etc.

The ones I've looked into are Tattletale and Videofied. Both systems have their strengths and weaknesses and could provide a certain amount of protection/early warning should vacant buildings be disrupted or illegally entered/used. Each included instant communication to the central system. One even recognizes and reports changes in temperature!

Note sure of the cost of implementing an expansive system of these alarms city-wide (or, more likely, as a targeted strategy), but as a preventative measure, it's an inriguing idea...
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PostJun 14, 2015#9

Presbyterian wrote:We still don't know who Urban Assets LLC is. The city doesn't even know. It's not McKee or the Roberts brothers.
Apparently it was. Thanks for helping the city crumble.

Assets no more: Steve Roberts linked to company that let properties deteriorate in north St. Louis
In September 2008, a company called Urban Assets began acquiring large numbers of properties in north St. Louis, primarily buying abandoned parcels cheaply at sheriff's tax auctions.
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... 1s.twitter
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