benjamins gift , so to speak , was swooping in when these owners felt their backs were about to break , making them a well below market offer that nonetheless must have seemed like a relief and a godsend - and this itself only a measure murdoch resorted to when the owners werent behind on any taxes , allowing him to get creative placing liens on property , or when he was bored with the areas foreclosure and sheriffs auction offerings - and then closing down the operation , firing everyone , selling off the assets , knocking down the building and putting up something along the lines of a modest strip mall .