Safety and Crime Safety and Crime PreventionPrevention

What Every Real Estate Agent What Every Real Estate Agent Needs To KnowNeeds To Know

WelcomeWelcome

• Safety Concerns Unique To Our Safety Concerns Unique To Our ProfessionProfession

• Realtor Safety at Work, Home, & on the Realtor Safety at Work, Home, & on the RoadRoad

• Every Year Realtors in Every State have Every Year Realtors in Every State have been threatened, robbed, assaulted, and been threatened, robbed, assaulted, and some have lost their lives.some have lost their lives.

• Thefts during Public and Realtor Open Thefts during Public and Realtor Open Houses.Houses.

Safety ConcernsSafety Concerns

• Working alone in the office, early Working alone in the office, early morning or late at night.morning or late at night.

• Entering or exiting the office.Entering or exiting the office.

• Meeting unknown individuals for the Meeting unknown individuals for the first time.first time.

• Open HousesOpen Houses

Crimes Against Real Estate Crimes Against Real Estate AgentsAgents

27 Year Old Iowa Realtor Murdered in model home.

67 Year Old Realtor Murdered and set on fire showing vacant home.

St. LouisSt. LouisTwo agents robbed at open houses. One had car Two agents robbed at open houses. One had car

stolen, the other was kidnapped at gun point. stolen, the other was kidnapped at gun point. He was forced to take money out of an ATM.He was forced to take money out of an ATM.

TexasTexasAgent murdered at new construction open Agent murdered at new construction open

house.house.

New Castle, PANew Castle, PAAgent (male) robbed at knife point in vacant Agent (male) robbed at knife point in vacant

home.home.

Kansas CityKansas CityAgent kidnapped and robbed at gun point. Agent kidnapped and robbed at gun point.

Agent left office to meet man to show homes.Agent left office to meet man to show homes.

Meeting A Client First TimeMeeting A Client First Time

• Meet at the office.Meet at the office.

• Fill out a prospect form.Fill out a prospect form.

• Introduce prospect to someone in Introduce prospect to someone in your office.your office.

• Always let someone know where you Always let someone know where you are going.are going.

• Carry a charged cell phone.Carry a charged cell phone.

Keep it LightKeep it Light

• Show properties before dark.Show properties before dark.If you are showing after hours, advise your associate or manager of If you are showing after hours, advise your associate or manager of

your schedule.your schedule.

If you have to show a property after dark, turn on all lights and raise If you have to show a property after dark, turn on all lights and raise shades, open curtains and blinds.shades, open curtains and blinds.

St. Charles agent received an up call to show a property in Elgin at St. Charles agent received an up call to show a property in Elgin at night from a women who gave a phone number. Met two women at night from a women who gave a phone number. Met two women at the house. Left front door unlocked. The two women kept asking the house. Left front door unlocked. The two women kept asking questions while in the basement. Later after burglary to home, it questions while in the basement. Later after burglary to home, it was discovered that while being kept busy in the basementwas discovered that while being kept busy in the basement

Alert Alert • St. Charles agent received an up call to St. Charles agent received an up call to

show a property in Elgin at night from a show a property in Elgin at night from a women who gave a phone number. Met women who gave a phone number. Met two women at the house. Left front door two women at the house. Left front door unlocked. The two women kept asking unlocked. The two women kept asking questions while in the basement. Later questions while in the basement. Later after burglary to home, it was discovered after burglary to home, it was discovered that while being kept busy in the that while being kept busy in the basement a third subject entered the basement a third subject entered the home and unlocked a window in garage.home and unlocked a window in garage.

• Of course the phone number was phony.Of course the phone number was phony.

Don’t be too publicDon’t be too public

• Limit the amount of personal Limit the amount of personal informationinformation

• Don’t give out your home phone Don’t give out your home phone numbernumber

• Giving out too much of the wrong Giving out too much of the wrong info can make you a target.info can make you a target.

Touch BaseTouch Base

• Always let someone know where you Always let someone know where you are going and when you be back.are going and when you be back.

• Leave the name and phone number Leave the name and phone number of the client at the office.of the client at the office.

• Schedule a time for the office to call Schedule a time for the office to call and check on you.and check on you.

Distress Code SystemDistress Code System

• A code that indicates to someone at A code that indicates to someone at the office you are in trouble.the office you are in trouble.

• Advise nearby neighbors that you are Advise nearby neighbors that you are doing an open house.doing an open house.

Public Open HousesPublic Open Houses

• Working Alone.Working Alone.

• High-publicity event.High-publicity event.

• Unknown prospects, multiple Unknown prospects, multiple prospects in the house at one time.prospects in the house at one time.

• Check all rooms prior to locking the Check all rooms prior to locking the doors.doors.

Pop Up RealtorPop Up Realtor

• Meeting someone at a house.Meeting someone at a house.

• Meet prospects at the office.Meet prospects at the office.

Realtor Open HousesRealtor Open Houses

• Deerfield Illinois & Northfield IllinoisDeerfield Illinois & Northfield Illinois

February, March and April of 2012February, March and April of 2012

Male using a bogus Century 21 business Male using a bogus Century 21 business card attended Realtor open houses card attended Realtor open houses and committed thefts of jewelry from and committed thefts of jewelry from master bedrooms.master bedrooms.

Subject using the name of Michael Subject using the name of Michael Shermer.Shermer.

5’7” late 50’s balding, stocky build.5’7” late 50’s balding, stocky build.

Showing PropertyShowing Property

• Even though you think the person Even though you think the person waiting to be next to show is a waiting to be next to show is a realtor, lock doors and put key in realtor, lock doors and put key in lock box.lock box.

• Tell agent that the listing agent Tell agent that the listing agent wants to read lock box for showings wants to read lock box for showings if questioned.if questioned.

Obscene Phone CallsObscene Phone Calls• Person Making The Call Derives Sexual Person Making The Call Derives Sexual

Pleasure By Using Sexual or Foul Pleasure By Using Sexual or Foul Language.Language.

• Star *57 on Your PhoneStar *57 on Your Phone

• Simply Hang UpSimply Hang Up

• Report Call To Police and Phone ProviderReport Call To Police and Phone Provider

Giving Date and Time of Call.Giving Date and Time of Call.

Police Will Obtain Caller Info From Police Will Obtain Caller Info From PhonePhone

Company. Company.

Obscene MailObscene Mail

• Place Mail in Bag.Place Mail in Bag.

• Report Offense To The Police Report Offense To The Police Department Department

and U.S. Postal Inspector.and U.S. Postal Inspector.

Person Committing a Crime Will LeavePerson Committing a Crime Will Leave

Fingerprints on The Envelope and Fingerprints on The Envelope and Mail.Mail.

Truly Remarkable Safe Truly Remarkable Safe ServiceService