September 02 2015
In honor of Realtor Safety Month, this is the latest in a series of safety articles we will publishing all September long. See our first article for a month-long checklist of steps to take to bolster your safety.
The Little Rock real estate community was rocked last year by disappearance of Beverly Carter, a Crye-Leike real estate agent who vanished immediately after showing a country home in nearby Scott, Ark.
Police arrested a suspect (who had an extensive criminal record) and charged him with murder after Carter's body was found. After three days, Carter's car was still in the driveway of the home she showed that night. Her body was found in a shallow grave later in the week.
Her colleagues, understandably, are now afraid to go out to show houses. Her managing broker also has a leadership challenge, in trying to keep a business going and support her agents and their families.
Crimes against real estate agents on the job are rare, but they do occur – and nobody is immune. Last May, a Charlotte, N.C., real estate agent was sexually assaulted upon showing a prospect a house. A 27-year-old agent, Ashley Okland, was shot to death while showing a model home in West Des Moines, Iowa, in 2012.
A Pennsylvania man named Frank Yeager was arrested in 2012 after police got wind that he was planning to lure female real estate agents into model homes and then sexually assault them. His target avoided becoming a victim when she refused two separate requests to meet at the home alone with him.
The last incident is particularly instructive. The agent was selling newly built Pulte homes. She became concerned because Yeager was acting strange and did not ask about prices, according to the report. In this case, her instincts were correct – she told Yeager he could take a look at the home himself, but she would not be going inside with him. Yeager returned, insisting that the home had a water leak and again tried to get her to go inside with him. Again, she refused to go in the home with him.
When agents did go look at the house, they found that Yeager had apparently pulled the drapes shut and turned out the lights. They called the police, who got a warrant and found rope, duct tape, two handguns, and a diary detailing his plans. He was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison for attempted rape.
The first and best line of defense is always common sense and street smarts. In this case, it may have saved the agent's life. But it's not always enough.
In the Little Rock case still unfolding, Beverly Carter took some precautions, as well. Her husband knew exactly where she was going that night, and knew exactly what time he should hear from her. When she was late coming home or calling, Mr. Carter knew something was wrong, and was able to mobilize law enforcement and a massive community search right away.
Naturally, there is no foolproof method of detecting or stopping criminals who prey on real estate agents. But there are a few things agents and their managers can do to help lessen the odds, reduce the opportunity for crime, and make themselves less vulnerable.
Have the client or prospect meet you at the office – with other people there. Copy their driver's license or another ID.
To view the original article, visit the Market Leader blog.