Homeowners in north Minneapolis are becoming frustrated by the rise of thefts in the neighborhood. What’s surprising is what’s being stolen—not from the inside of their homes, but on the outside.

The people living along 31st Ave. N. can’t believe neighborhood homes are being torn down piece by piece.

Jen Richardson, who lives at 31st and Aldrich told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that abandoned homes had been targeted for some time. She knows it’s decreasing her property value and can only take heart that her siding isn’t aluminum.

Thieves have been ripping the aluminum siding off of homes in the neighborhood, all for just a little bit of cash.

At the scrap yard, aluminum only goes for 60-cents a pound. Scrap Yard Owner Dusty Gibbs had no idea people were stealing the siding; it’s just not worth it.

"Somebody’s stealing it…that one I don’t understand," said Gibbs.

An entire bushel of aluminum siding is only worth $1,500 dollars.

Cameras and computers are in place to help track the stolen merchandise and those who bring it in. Gibbs often helps people with expensive items like copper. But tracking siding will be tough.