The following is a portion of an article in the Sun Sentinel in 2010. It was recommended by a unit owner in a mass email to this blog's author and other undisclosed recipients. Click here to go to the full article on the Sun Sentinel website.
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Cracking down on board theft
Florida law offers some help but owners are largely on their own
Last month's arrest of a Palm Beach County Century Village board president on larceny charges in connection with $33,000 in missing association funds highlights a top concern for those who live in Florida shared communities: Whom do you turn to when you think a board member is stealing?
Unless the robbery is at gunpoint, the answer is: You contact authorities and provide any evidence you have of theft. While Florida statutes and authorities offer some relief, for the most part condo owners are on their own when it comes to providing proof of stolen or missing money.
"Our office always gets calls from condo owners who believe that their board is misusing the association funds. It is one of the most common complaints that we get," said William Raphan, a South Florida supervisor with the Florida Office of the Condominium Ombudsman. "Since we do not have investigators, or enforcement power, we refer them to the appropriate agency."
In many cases, that means the local police.
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