Apparently stealing properties is a trend in Philadelphia. Not long after we were notified of Susan M. McAtee's title sleuthing skills, another title examiner found something similar in a chain of title she examined. Shortly thereafter it was discovered the grantors and grantees in her title exam had been arrested. Read on to find out the details of their scheme and what they were charged with.

Making the decision to resign from a transaction is always done after careful consideration and review of the facts. Sometimes it is simply the only alternative. Jim DiStefano, vice president and senior underwriter in Philadelphia, knows this all too well.

In April of 2013, Katie Shapiro, title examiner, asked Jim to look at two deeds she found in the chain of title for a transaction a title agent was handling. The deeds caught her attention because the consideration was nominal.

In December of 2009 a Grantor conveyed title to the Grantee, for the total consideration of only $3,000. Seventeen days later the Grantee transferred title to William H. Alexander III for only $5,000. Alexander held on to the property until April of 2013 when he entered into a purchase and sale agreement to sell the property for $75,000, which was why Katie was preparing a title report.

Since the two deeds conveyed for less than $20,000, Katie brought the file to Jim for approval. He advised her to include a requirement on the Commitment for Title Insurance for Grantor and Grantee to join in the conveyance, and send the title report to the title agent. The closer called Jim to find out why the Grantor and Grantee had to sign the deed.

Jim explained to the closer the deeds were recorded without the benefit of title insurance and by the Grantee, not a title agent. As a precautionary measure, he required they join in on the conveyance so he could be confident they were properly identified and their interest in the property was properly divested.

After the call, Jim decided to review the deeds more closely and realized both deeds were notarized by the same notary, yet the notary's signatures clearly did not match. He contacted the closer and informed her the Company would refuse to insure the sale.

Four months later, the closer stumbled across a news article naming the Grantee as one of four parties arrested for "stealing" houses in Philadelphia. The others involved included the son of a former Philadelphia Police Commissioner. They were arrested after a three–year long investigation for forging the deeds of 22 properties in Philadelphia, enabling them to effectively steal the houses.

Imagine the wave of relief which came over Jim knowing he refused to insure the sale of one of those properties. The perpetrators were charged with:

• Criminal Conspiracy
• Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition
• Theft by Deception
• Forgery
• Tampering with Records or Identification
• Tampering with Public Records or Information

The Grantee is being held on $595,000 bail, and the others on $575,000 bail and $560,000 bail.