I assure you it is not a criminal act. If it is a civil violation subject to lawsuit is entirely based on the terms of the loan.
Were the items paid for by HELOC money? If so, it may be a criminal act. The added loan money from the HELOC may have been secured by the improvements. Taking the items out will lower the value of the property below the value that the property was before the improvements were added.
There was a kitchen before the flipper kitchen was added.
There was a stove before the flipper stove was added.
There was a dishwasher before the flipper dishwasher was added.
There was a bathroom/sink before the flipper bathroom sink was added.
They are not putting back the original items after removing these.. so they are affecting the underlying loan securitization.