Authorities raid boarding house in Reading

READING, Pa. (FOX 29) - Local, state and federal authorities swarmed a boarding house in Reading, Pa. early Wednesday morning. Neighbors say it's a hotbed of illegal activity.

The pounding on the front door came around 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to residents. It was followed by Reading police and other law enforcement agents moving door-to-door in the 50 room, multi-story building.

A law enforcement source tells FOX 29 agents with Federal Homeland Security led the raid.

Residents say the 100 block of South 4th was blocked by police vehicles in the action that lasted for several hours.

A tangle of wires hang from the side of the building above piles of trash strewn about. Residents say they pay their $85 a week rent to Devon Apartments, LLC and the property manager Jeffrey Burkhardt.

When FOX 29's Jeff Cole arrived seeking comment Wednesday, the office was empty with computers on and phones ringing.