Wilkinsburg Redevelopment Authority Head Charged

July 30, 2011 12:00 AM

This all came to light when police investigated a burglary at a vacant home at 420 Rebbecca Avenue. (Credit: KDKA)

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WILKINSBURG (KDKA) — The woman in charge of the Wilkinsburg Redevelopment Authority is accused of hiring someone to remove items from inside vacant houses and then sell those items.

Police say 65-year-old Kate Luxenburg obtained lists of vacant and abandoned property and told her friend, 48-year-old Richard Funk, of Braddock Hills, to remove copper and appliances.

This all came to light when police investigated a burglary at a vacant home at 420 Rebbecca Avenue. Police believe Funk knew what he was doing was illegal.

Luxenburg is a volunteer, non-paid member of the redevelopment authority. There is no individual authority member that can take independent action on behalf of the authority.

Luxenburg and Funk were arrested and taken to the Allegheny County Jail.

Investigators say there could be more houses and people involved.

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Deeshwan

Is that how you redevelop a neighborhood? Paint flowers on the plywood before you put it up?
Daniel

My family grew up on Rebecca Avenue, back when it was an affluent, self-sustaining community. It breaks my heart to see what has happened to this once thriving community: run-down homes, boarded up houses, etc., not to mention the criminal activity. It bothers me even more that employees who the community places their trust in, are as corrupt as the people in Washington, DC. Is there no integrity left in this world?????