2nd Real Estate Agent Attacked in July. Why it Keeps Happening and What Can be Done Today!

Q: Why do these crimes against agents keep happening?


A: Because agents are easy targets! Criminals like easy.



Q: Are these crimes preventable?

A: YES! Agents simply need the knowledge of how to avoid becoming a victim.



On July 1st a real estate agent staffing an on site property sales office in Smyrna, Georgia was robbed and assaulted by a man who also attempted to rape her. He took her money and jewelry and forced her into a closet. She was able to fight him off. He is still at large.



This past Wednesday in Jackson, Tennessee, the scenario repeated itself when an agent was showing a property to a client and he handcuffed, gagged and hog-tied her, then robbed her of her purse and cell phone. She was left in a closet that she escaped from after he left. The perpetrator said that he planned to rape her, but she screamed too loudly and he thought someone would hear her. He is in police custody.



I have teamed up with real estate agent, Michelle Jones, the creator of the real estate agent safety app, REAL ALERT. Our goal is to show the real estate industry that as an active agent and former agent, we both know the dangers you face everyday. We have walked in your shoes. We are reaching out to you to show that you can take steps to work in this business safely. Male agents are also warned that these crimes are committed against you, as well. However, the possibility of sexual assault adds another layer of safety/security concerns for female agents.



What are the solutions for these types of crimes? Agent awareness and engaging in safe practices on a regular basis. Gut instinct should be first on everyone's list. If you have a strange feeling, explained or not, about someone or a situation, listen to that voice, trust your intuition and get out of that dangerous situation.

- Agent's should not show homes to people who have not been pre-qualified or been made to provide I.D. and information at a previous meeting in their office, with witnesses. Period. No exceptions.

-You should not meet complete strangers alone at homes. Ever. The client needs to come into the office and provide some information and an I.D. If they are serious buyers, they will have visited a loan officer who will verify that they are who they say they are and legitimate clients and can provide a pre-quaification letter, which the agent can easily verify.

If they refuse to take these extra steps, they are not legitimate, understanding clients and should not be dealt with. Every reasonable person understands the danger you, as agents, face daily and will not disagree with taking these steps to ensure their safety. People are required to show I.D. to rent a movie or to write a check. They don't question that. This is the largest financial purchase they will make, it should not be an issue. Agents have to stop being scared to ask for this safety measure. It could save your life.



Should agents be required to have another agent present when staffing leasing/sales offices? Yes. If not another agent, a loan officer, title company rep, insurance sales person, spouse or friend. There truly is safety in numbers. This is not realistic or always convenient, but apparently necessary since criminals are targeting lone agents. Perhaps an intercom/entry system would be a way to screen lookers, but that only goes so far and certain information would still have to be obtained. They would need to be advised before entry that they will have to show I.D. in order to tour. That may stop some criminals at the door.

- There should be a copy machine and fax or scanner in model home community's sales offices. Photo I.D. should be immediately faxed or scanned and e-mailed to the office or emergency contact the minute someone walks in.

Agents are seen as targets by criminals.

- Agents report feeling like a 'sitting duck' in these properties and open houses. Criminals know that. Plus, the well-known fact that agents are tech savvy and have all of your expensive electronics with you to get work done, makes you more of a target. You typically dress nicely, and many agents, male and female, wear expensive jewelry. Most drive nice cars. More bullseyes.



Special care should be taken not to blame the victim. I believe in tough love though. We can all learn from past crimes. You would be remiss to keep repeating the situations that got your fellow agents in trouble. Right? As a former real estate agent, I understand firsthand the need to meet as many potential clients as possible and to show as many houses that you can. I know the feeling of needing to be available when a client may walk through the door of a model home, whether or not you could find someone to accompany you. I get being afraid to alienate clients by asking them to make an extra trip to the office, then asking to copy their I.D. I also understand the danger. This business is commission only. If you don't sell a house, you don't get paid. This business is also listed as one of the most dangerous occupations by the U.S. Department of labor.

I now make a living teaching agents how to do their jobs more safely. Unfortunately, many wait until a crime(s) has been committed before doing anything about it. Other agents see the news, know the stories and still practice the dangerous behavior because they think it will never happen to them in their safe part of the world. As long as criminals have cars, there is no such thing as "safe neighborhoods." Teaching safe pro-active behavior is an uphill battle. These stories will eventually change that thought process. But how many more agents have to be victimized before it is changed? Is safety important only during September's Safety Month. Will your association/board only play a video or pass out some handouts? Or will you schedule a qualified speaker who knows this field and who is a safety expert, to come and teach you how to be safe?

A declining economy plays a part in making people more desperate and prone to commit crime. Criminals also look for the easiest targets. Agents, you make a living meeting strangers alone in empty houses. By the recent news reports, criminals get that and are targeting agents and their belongings more and more. Agents are getting killed and robbed being in houses alone with criminals. We must stop this behavior!



If agents choose to carry a weapon, they need to educate themselves on their choices. Pepper spray and personal alarms are two non-lethal choices. Product education is key. Agents, you have the power to take away the criminal's opportunity. Agents, you completely control whether or not you look like an easy victim. Sometimes you need a reminder and with new agents, you need to be taught safe practices right up front.



Read this week's Realtor Magazine interview where I discuss agents using their smart phones as a weapon. I recommend $ apps that will help you work safer. Feel free to forward and share this information. We may save a life and stop more crimes against agents.

I hope to hear from you.

REALTOR® Magazine interview:

Feeling Threatened? How to Use Your Smartphone as a Weapon

http://realtormag.realtor.org/technology/feature/article/2011/07/feeling-threatened-how-use-your-smartphone-weapon