CLEVELAND -- A growing problem is literally destroying and devaluing hundreds of Cleveland homes.

Vandals have been striking in dozens of neighborhoods, stripping houses of copper piping and other scrap metals.

NewsChannel5's Joe Paganakis reported that the damage is making some of the homes impossible to sell.

One home on East 67th Street in Cleveland has been vacant for three years. Now that the copper has been ripped out by vandals, it is set to be torn down.

Thieves have broken into several homes, ripping down the ceiling and the walls to search for copper piping that fetches $3 a pound at the scrap yard, but causing thousands of dollars in damage.

2nd District Cleveland Police Commander Frank Bowlen took part in a public meeting on the problem, along with housing court Judge Ray Pianka.

Concerned citizens gathered because they feel their neighborhoods are being gutted, and a growing number of vandalized homes are causing a drop in property values.

David Mazanke and Safe Guard Properties try to renovate gutted homes and Pianka does his best to send violators to jail.

Pianka and Cleveland Councilman Jay Westbrook have put a new law into action requiring all scrap dealers to apply for a scrap dealer's license and back it up with a picture ID.

They hope that if the thieves don't have a place to cash in they'll stop stealing the copper from Cleveland homes.