ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – Nearly six months after the May 16 tornado, the recovery is ongoing as people try to repair and return to their homes. A continuous obstacle to that is thieves targeting damaged homes in North City.
This has been an ongoing issue since soon after the tornado, with people charged with stealing utility wire, from damaged businesses, piping from now-vacant buildings, donated items for tornado victims from a church and even items in a tornado-damaged school.
Homeowners and volunteers working to repair tornado-damaged properties said criminals are taking advantage of homes that remain unoccupied, stealing personal items and even stripping copper pipes…