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Thieves target hurricane-damaged homes in St. Johns County

St. Johns County homes that were severely damaged by Hurricane Matthew have temporarily moved out families, and these vacant homes might be attracting thieves.

St. Johns resident Candice Kropfeld and her family said they lost nearly all of their belongings after the hurricane had hit the area in October.

The family has since moved out of their home while it undergoes repair. “It’s a lot to deal with, being out of a home,” Kropfeld said.

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The family had put their belongings in their backyard and assumed that no one would touch them. But this led to the theft of the family's bike and other sentimental items. “There’s so much out there. It’s hard to really know what exactly was taken,” Kropfeld said.

Neighbors that live down the street from the Kropfeld family said that a shed had been broken into.

“People have the audacity to come into our backyard and take what we have, which was really nothing,” Kropfeld said.

Action News Jax asked whether the St. Augustine Police Department has added more officers to patrol the neighborhood. The department has not yet responded.