Charleston Has a Goal of Fewer Abandoned Homes

Police in Charleston are zoning in on abandoned homes to cut down on crime. Police are able to serve administrative search warrants without waiting on red tape, and that has turned up some squatters and investigation leads involving abandoned and dilapidated homes. State law lets a judge sign off on the warrant and lets fire and building departments figure out if the house can be rebuilt or needs destroyed. Hundreds of warrants are in the works.