‘It’s just pathetically simple to steal property’: Leaders look for ways to crack down on deed theft

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (KCTV) - A growing scam across the country, property deed fraud, continues upending people’s lifelong investments across the country, including right here at home.

The Leavenworth County Register of Deeds, TerriLois Mashburn, is now ringing the alarm bell.

Although it’s a complicated crime, Mashburn says there are steps local residents can take to protect their properties.

“It’s just pathetically simple to steal property at this point,” Mashburn said. “We’re dealing with sometimes 150-year-old land laws and the fraudsters are dealing with 22nd-century technology and we’ve got to step up.”

Just days into taking on her position as registrar, Mashburn knew deed theft was something she had to tackle. Story after story, elderly resident after elderly resident, showing up a