Safety Alert from Howard County Association of Realtors
May 9th, 2008 Categories: Agent Productivity
I just received an email from The Howard County Association of Realtors which brings attention to a serious situation they have been made aware of. Quoting directly from the email:
Member Safety Alert
From a nearby association: A Maryland REALTOR® who has had a suspicious phone call has been advised by New Jersey police that this caller, identifying himself as Steven Barnett (also uses the name Steven Bennett) is targeting female real estate agents in MD and VA and that she should not meet with him if requested to do so. Right now his pattern is to make appointments with real estate agents and then call and cancel them. The police say that the caller fantasizes about getting a real estate agent alone in a vacant house and performing sexual acts on her. The police also say that he probably doesn’t have the means to leave his current area in NJ, but there is no sense taking chances. When this man calls, his pattern is to say he can go to 425 K and works for the railroad. In actuality, he rides a bike and hangs out near the railroad but doesn’t work for them.
We would like our members to be safe rather than sorry. In 2007, a Maryland REALTOR® was murdered in a vacant home he was preparing for a showing. Here are 5 tips which can be easily and immediately applied.
Safety Tips to Apply EVERY Day
- Do not meet any unknown person at an unoccupied property. Meet in your office first, making a copy of their driver’s license and documenting appropriate information first.
- Always carry a cell phone, and keep it charged.
- When holding an open house, make sure you do a tour of the property first and note escape routes for yourself. Also, do not allow any means of non-detected entry by others, such as unlocked back doors or unlocked entries into basements.
- Do not park your vehicle where it can be blocked in.
Use the buddy system whenever possible. When going on an appointment, always let another person know when and where you are going, and give them a time you will check in with them.
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I think it is wonderful how board of realtors are working for their agents. Putting the Agent Alerts out there for all agents to know what it going on helps them to know, a sitiation CAN happen. Too many times, agents get complacient in their thinking that ‘it won’t happen to me’, but when it happens to someone very close to you, it can happen to you! Agents need to be aware, on guard, ready for anything. The key to not becoming a victim is awareness of your situation at all times.
Thanks for all that you do!
Comment by Beth — May 28, 2008 #