This is very true, in fact there's a group in Bristol who have taken this very idea and run with it. They're a group of 'ethical squatters' who move into abandoned places and look after them until the developers / owners decide what to do with them. They even do things like put on gallery exhibitions and plays etc.
There should be more groups like this - far cheaper than lackadaisical security firms, and boarded up windows and doors. Boarding is just a sign saying "come and strip me out, all welcome". It is not just property ripe for redevelopment, that like groups should protect. There are large numbers of council houses/properties that are emptied, prior to modernisation/estate development etc. Large amounts of 'our money' has to be paid out rectifying the vandalism before the modernisation can start. I dread to think how much extra money Leeds City Council and its partners have paid out, during the recent spate of modernisations - too much, judging by the Council Tax Bill that came through the door today!!
