In 2010, Florida led the country in mortgage fraud for the fifth year in a row.  In addition, the state was first in loan investigations for the fourth year in a row.  Last year, Florida had more than three times the estimated level of reported mortgage fraud on loans.

South Florida in particular had the highest levels of reported mortgage fraud.  The tri-county area was listed at fifth place of all metro-areas in the country and made up 5 percent of the nation’s reported mortgage fraud cases.

Reports from people suspicions of mortgage fraud increased by 5 percent between 2009 and 2010.  A total of 70,472 reports of mortgage fraud were made in the U.S. last year.

If you or someone you know has been charged with fraud in South Florida, contact the Boca Raton theft and fraud attorneys of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. at 561-353-2800 to learn more about your rights.

Crime statistics released last month by several Florida police departments show the state is currently at a 40-year low in criminal activity.  Experts say that the decrease in crime in the state mirrors nationwide decreases over the past several decades.

From 2009 to 2010, the statewide crime rate decreased by 7 percent.  Nonviolent crimes dropped by 6 percent and violent crimes decreased by 10 percent.  From 2009 to 2010, crime in Palm Beach County alone dropped by 11 percent.

Furthermore, Palm Beach County showed decreases in every crime category.  The only category of crime that increased in Broward County was burglary and theft.

Contact the Boca Raton theft restitution attorneys of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. at 561-353-2800 if you or someone you know has been charged with theft or burglary in South Florida.

This past Saturday, Boca Raton police charged a man with theft after searching for the suspect for more than a year.  Police found a black hat with two eye holes cut out and linked DNA from the hat to 23-year old Patrick Osias of Boynton Beach.

Officers believe that Osias was involved in a robbery on January 2, 2010 at the Best Carribbean Cuisine Restaurant on North Dixie Highway.  Osias is suspected of walking in to the restaurant with the mask on and taking $350 from one of the restaurant’s customers.  Two other men have been charged in the robbery for waiting outside the restaurant in a get-away car.

If you or someone you know is facing their first criminal charge and would like to speak with an attorney about preparing for trial, contact the Boca Raton pretrial intervention lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. at 561-353-2800 to learn more about how we can help you.