Company says it is losing thousands because of vandals

A home off 27^th Street in Columbus looks normal on the outside, but on the inside, it is a mess with sheet rock in pieces on the floor, electric wiring torn out, windows broken, and heating and air conditioning units gone.

Dan Vangasken with Southeast Enterprise Group says it was a nice place before it was hit by vandals.

"New sheet rock, new equipment, electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, carpet, all the way down to the blinds and windows," said Vangasken

It is a problem some local realtors are facing every month in the Columbus area. They say vandals are breaking into vacant rental properties and destroying everything from homes, to apartments, even commercial spaces.

"One instance, this year, probably about ten air conditioning units," said Vangasken. "That's about 40 thousand dollars worth of equipment taken off the top [of one building]."

Vangasken says vandalism can cost the management group about $100,000 in repairs each year. While he says it might not affect your rent, it puts the companies in a tight spot.

"It definitely affects our bottom line significantly when we have to pull crew and hire people to come in and fix something like this," he said. "We just don't get other things done and it is just a waste."

Vangasken says in some cases they are forced to board up the homes, remove the oven and refrigerator, and take out heating and air conditioning systems and put them into storage so they will not be stolen from vacant properties.

While he says the person police believe is responsible for the destruction was arrested, it will not help getting this cleaned up.

"All you can really do is board it up, and what can you do?"

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