Commerical Receivers Association
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Did you miss the CRA Annual Conference?  We’ll be sharing articles over the coming weeks on each of the panels from the conference, written by ChatGPT.

Handling Outside Criminal Activity in Receiverships

CRA Annual Conference 2025 | St. Louis
Panelists: Jacen Dinoff (KCP Advisory), Frank Simon (Simon PLC), Amy Clement (Childress Klein)
Moderator: Victor Owens (East West Bank)

Introduction

Receiverships often involve more than financial restructuring—they can also present real-world risks from outside criminal activity. At the CRA Annual Conference 2025, the panel “Handling Outside Criminal Activity” explored the types of threats receivers may face, how to manage them, and strategies to safeguard assets, staff, and communities.

Common Criminal Threats

Panelists highlighted the range of criminal activity that can impact distressed properties:

  • Vandalism and graffiti that damage property value.

  • Burglary and theft targeting equipment, vehicles, or cash.

  • Squatting, which creates both legal and safety complications.

  • Drug-related activity, often bringing heightened security risks.

  • Physical criminal violence, which poses direct threats to receivers and staff

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These issues can undermine efforts to stabilize an estate and complicate recovery strategies.

The Process of Responding

Managing criminal activity requires a coordinated response. Receivers must carefully decide when to involve law enforcement, balancing urgency with the need to maintain control of the process.

Strategies discussed included:

  • Showing up with appropriate protection and support staff.

  • Hiring security services to maintain ongoing safety.

  • Working with courts to secure orders when intervention is necessary.

  • Partnering with local police and city officials for proactive engagement

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Prevention and Risk Management

Panelists stressed that prevention is often more effective than reaction. Practical steps include:

  • Installing security systems and cameras.

  • Boarding up windows and doors in vacant or vulnerable properties.

  • Using specialty locks to deter unauthorized entry.

  • Coordinating with municipalities to address recurring problems.

By implementing preventative measures early, receivers can reduce liability and preserve property value

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Challenges on the Ground

Even with strong strategies, receivers face significant challenges when dealing with criminal activity:

  • Ensuring safety of the receiver and team in unpredictable environments.

  • Managing the speed and timing of responses to prevent escalation.

  • Addressing recurring issues, where properties remain ongoing targets despite interventions

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The panel emphasized that these situations require vigilance, adaptability, and clear communication with all stakeholders.

Conclusion

The panel on “Handling Outside Criminal Activity” underscored that criminal threats are an often-overlooked element of receivership work. Protecting assets requires not just financial oversight, but also physical security and proactive engagement with law enforcement and the courts.

By prioritizing safety, prevention, and collaboration, receivers can better safeguard estates while maintaining the trust of creditors, courts, and communities.