Jul 31, 2008 9:17 pm US/Pacific
Police Using Foreclosed Homes To Bust Prostitutes
TRACY (CBS13) ―
Local authorities are now using foreclosed homes as a prostitution ploy in the central valley.
Police say using a foreclosed home to set up a prostitution bust is nothing new, but they don't usually talk about it for fear of giving away their strategy. CBS13 went to one neighborhood where it's happening, and spoke with some unhappy neighbors.
"I wouldn't want that around my neighborhood. I mean that's not good for my kids," says Enrique Cardenas, neighbor.
Enrique didn't know police used his neighbor's foreclosed home last night as a place for a prostitution sting.
"It's not a good example you know for my kids. I wouldn't want them to be around something like that," says Enrique.
A spokesman for the city says that foreclosed homes are a good place to conduct a successful sting.
"This isn't new. Agencies have always used foreclosed home because of the access it's easier," says Matt Robinson, City of Tracy.
Last night, four suspected prostitutes were either arrested or cited on prostitution charges. Despite the success, neighbors worry about the kinds of people prostitution stings bring to their communities.
"People carry guns today and bullets go through walls and windows. People do run through properties and things happen and it is a residential area," says one resident.
Some neighbors said that they support the strategy, but didn't want to admit it on camera.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)