Long Island Renews Effort To Crack Down On 'Zombie' Properties

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- There's a renewed effort to crack down on zombie property scams on Long Island.

Suffolk County authorities are putting zombie house scams in their crosshairs. County Legislative Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory is leading the effort.

Most are abandoned and in foreclosure, police are cracking down because criminals operating out of the homes are ripping off unsuspecting renters.

"We go to a home and someone presents themselves as a homeowner, they have access to the property, and then come to find out that they, they've taken over the property," Gregory told WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs.

If you believe squatters or illegally rented homes are in your neighborhood, notify police, Gregory said.

"See something, say something."

Suffolk police are compiling a registry of all zombie homes to keep a better eye on them.