Kennewick pair arrested in real estate scheme

A man and woman have been arrested in connection with a Kennewick real estate scheme that targeted foreclosed homes.

Police say Maggie G. Zieske, 32, and Steven “Nick” Hartmann, 28, would break into foreclosed homes and rent the properties.

The pair were arrested Tuesday at a house on the 220 block of East Third Avenue. They were booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of three counts of residential burglary.

The suspects would change the locks and present victims with agreements to rent or buy the properties, police said. The agreements led victims to believe the deals were legitimate.

Police did not say if Zieske and Hartmann profited from the deals.

This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 2:51 PM with the headline "Kennewick pair arrested in real estate scheme."