I followed Sheriff’s Deputies evicting people from foreclosed homes, shooting photos, video, and audio, for a story which formed part of the REUTERS ‘TIMES OF CRISIS’ multimedia package.

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It was tense every time Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Mendoza approached a foreclosed home.  He readied his hand on his gun.  Trailing him with a camera to show the human cost of the housing crisis, I followed at a safe distance.

Many homes were already empty, and Mendoza would walk through the eerily silent rooms, gun drawn, making sure nobody was there.

Mexican immigrant Aida Lemus, a frail 70-year-old, looked scared as she opened her front door and peered through the crack.

Mendoza told her he was taking possession of her home for failing to pay her mortgage.

She needed to let him in, gather a few belongings and leave.

Aida opened the door.  Happy family photos lined a well-kept living room, reminding me of visiting my grandparents’ home as a child.  She spoke little English and immediately phoned a man who was giving her legal advice.

Mendoza found a bilingual neighbor to tell her she needed to end the phone call and leave so he could change the locks.

She began to cry and clutch her stomach as she talked about her grandchildren’s bottled milk.  Paramedics came to check on her, and left after calming her down.

She eventually picked up only her handbag and a towel and left her home, quietly sobbing.

It was horrible to watch, and Mendoza and I were silent for a while as we drove to the next foreclosed home.

California is one of the states hit hardest by mortgage foreclosures.  Hundreds of thousands defaulted on subprime loans that fueled a buying frenzy.  One in 10 prime borrowers are in foreclosure or overdue on payments.

Mendoza has told me about finding senior citizens, small kids and pitbulls left behind in the homes.  His colleague, Deputy Ramona Figueroa, says many homes are in an appalling state.  Mold is eating through the roof, meat rots in the refrigerator and animal feces and urine soil the carpet.

One man was growing marijuana upstairs, another took his life when a deputy arrived.

The people who had been evicted often seemed to leave behind a couple of belongings after emptying their homes: a crocheted baby’s sweater, a single plate of uneaten food.  Many obviously left in a hurry.  I tried to picture them from their remaining possessions.