Army Of Volunteers Patrol Brooklyn To Prevent Deed Theft

BROOKLYN, NY — The fight against predatory deed theft that robbed hundreds of Brooklynites of their homes soon will go door-to-door.

Three elected officials — New York Attorney General Letitia James, state Assemblywoman Diana C. Richardson and state Senator Zellnor Myrie — along with an army of volunteers will knock on doors Saturday in Brooklyn neighborhoods most afflicted by the scam.

They'll canvass block-from-block and door-to-door in Bed-Stuy, East Flatbush and Prospect Lefferts Gardens, said Karman Chao, a press aide with Myrie's office.

"Our focus, I would say, is to prevent (deed theft) and to get the information and resources out there,” Chao said.

Homeowners in gentrifying Brooklyn communities increasingly find themselves the targets of deed theft schemes hatched by developers bent on scooping up increasingly valuable properties. Many of those deceptive and illegal practices particularly affected African-American homeowners in Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights and are under investigation by the state.

James' office initiated the planned event Saturday, said Jonathan Timm, a spokesperson for Myrie. Timm said the three elected officials will work together but tailor their own efforts.

Volunteers with Myrie's office, for example, will hand out signs declaring "This House is Not For Sale," Chao said.

Their approaches may differ but the goal is the same — raising awareness of how to spot scammers and giving homeowners information to protect themselves.

"A lot of people come to office too late we’ve noticed," Chao said. "This effort is to prevent that."

Information about the event can be found here. Organizers plan to be out from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.