[aruanan]

If you are ever caught by responsible law enforcement, while doing this, you will very likely be charge with looting, unless a court deems the property abandoned for legal purposes.

In Illinois this isn't the case. If someone has refused to vacate and his possessions are placed outside, they're free for the taking. Of course, if the guy gets a moving van and is in the process of loading them, then this probably wouldn't hold. Otherwise, if they're sitting there unattended, they're abandoned and are considered fair game.

[Chemist_Geek]

In Illinois this isn't the case. If someone has refused to vacate and his possessions are placed outside, they're free for the taking.

Really? Wow. Is that in statute (I doubt it) or some appellate decision?