Personal Safety for Personal Safety for RealtorsRealtors

Presented by Officer Kory SneedPresented by Officer Kory Sneed

Scottsdale Police DepartmentScottsdale Police Department

Crime Prevention Officer Crime Prevention Officer

In 1995, Realtor Maria Garcia was In 1995, Realtor Maria Garcia was showing a house in Brentwood, NY. showing a house in Brentwood, NY. Prospect Donny Bates approached Prospect Donny Bates approached about the possible listing of his about the possible listing of his house. Instead of meeting him at house. Instead of meeting him at her office, she goes to a strange her office, she goes to a strange house with him. Once inside the house with him. Once inside the house, Donny murdered her. house, Donny murdered her. Donny Bates was a paroled convict Donny Bates was a paroled convict with a history of mental illness. with a history of mental illness.

July, 2006, Real Estate Agent Sarah July, 2006, Real Estate Agent Sarah Anne Walker’s body was found inside Anne Walker’s body was found inside the kitchen of a model home by a the kitchen of a model home by a couple looking to buy a house. The couple looking to buy a house. The home was located in a suburb of home was located in a suburb of McKinney, Texas. Sarah had been McKinney, Texas. Sarah had been stabbed 27 times. A composite sketch stabbed 27 times. A composite sketch was shown by the McKinney Police was shown by the McKinney Police Department and her killer was featured Department and her killer was featured on “America’s Most Wanted”. On on “America’s Most Wanted”. On September 5September 5thth, tips received led to the , tips received led to the arrest of Kosoul Chanthakoummane. arrest of Kosoul Chanthakoummane.

According to a report published According to a report published by the Kentucky Real Estate by the Kentucky Real Estate Commission, between 1982 and Commission, between 1982 and 2000, more than 200 real estate 2000, more than 200 real estate agents have been killed on the agents have been killed on the job. job.

(Dallas Morning News, July 13, 2006)(Dallas Morning News, July 13, 2006)

StatisticsStatistics

Potential Clients Potential Clients Meet all potential first time clients at your Meet all potential first time clients at your

officeoffice Record personal information about themRecord personal information about them

Photocopy Driver’s License- Is it them on Photocopy Driver’s License- Is it them on the license?the license?

NameName Address-verify though “Mapquest” or Address-verify though “Mapquest” or

other sourceother source Telephone contact numbersTelephone contact numbers Vehicle information to include make, Vehicle information to include make,

model, color, and license plate number model, color, and license plate number

Ask them personal questions - “Did Ask them personal questions - “Did you grow up around here?”you grow up around here?”

Do not tell them personal information Do not tell them personal information about yourself.about yourself.

Introduce them to someone else in Introduce them to someone else in the office. Most suspects don’t like the office. Most suspects don’t like all the attention. If showing, tell the all the attention. If showing, tell the co-worker where you are going and co-worker where you are going and when you will return.when you will return.

If using a satellite office, fax clients If using a satellite office, fax clients information to the main office. information to the main office.

Prior to Showing a PropertyPrior to Showing a Property

Make sure someone knows the location of the Make sure someone knows the location of the property you are showing, i.e., your office, property you are showing, i.e., your office, spouse, significant other, family, co-workerspouse, significant other, family, co-worker

Determine a distress code for emergencies in Determine a distress code for emergencies in the event you don’t want to alert the person- the event you don’t want to alert the person- “Red File”, “480-391-1200”, “602-391-4357”, “Red File”, “480-391-1200”, “602-391-4357”, “Mayday Lane”“Mayday Lane”

Make sure your office has all your vehicle Make sure your office has all your vehicle information information

Know the area surrounding all your Know the area surrounding all your properties-Is this generally a safe properties-Is this generally a safe neighborhood?neighborhood?

Know access roads into the Know access roads into the neighborhood- this will help you neighborhood- this will help you avoid dead-ends.avoid dead-ends.

What is the location of the nearest What is the location of the nearest police department?police department?

Does your cell phone work from the Does your cell phone work from the property or area you are showing.property or area you are showing.

Drive your own vehicle to showings.Drive your own vehicle to showings.

Arriving at the PropertyArriving at the Property Park you vehicle in an area that will give Park you vehicle in an area that will give

you the best visibility and lighting.you the best visibility and lighting. Park you vehicle on the street, not in the Park you vehicle on the street, not in the

driveway where you can be blocked in.driveway where you can be blocked in. Park your vehicle so it faces the way out Park your vehicle so it faces the way out

of the neighborhood.of the neighborhood. Place your purse or other valuables in Place your purse or other valuables in

the trunk of your vehicle prior to the trunk of your vehicle prior to arriving. arriving.

Are there suspicious people in the Are there suspicious people in the area or questionable activity in the area or questionable activity in the area? Trust your gut feeling, normally area? Trust your gut feeling, normally it is right.it is right.

Is this an area with heavy traffic or is it Is this an area with heavy traffic or is it isolated? Could someone hear you if isolated? Could someone hear you if you needed help? you needed help?

Did you notice any vehicle following Did you notice any vehicle following you to the property?you to the property?

Make sure your vehicle has a full tank Make sure your vehicle has a full tank of gas. of gas.

Getting the Home Ready to Getting the Home Ready to ShowShow

Arrive early and turn on all interior lights.Arrive early and turn on all interior lights. Open all curtains.Open all curtains. Unlock all doors including the exterior Unlock all doors including the exterior

gates, this would allow you to escape out gates, this would allow you to escape out the backyard if necessary.the backyard if necessary.

Check and see if the telephone has a dial Check and see if the telephone has a dial tone. Could you use it if necessary?tone. Could you use it if necessary?

Make sure the homeowner removed all Make sure the homeowner removed all valuables, weapons or pieces of valuables, weapons or pieces of information that could be used for I.D. information that could be used for I.D. Theft. Theft.

Notify the neighbors that you will be Notify the neighbors that you will be there and the times of Open House. there and the times of Open House. (If having an Open House .)(If having an Open House .)

Leave a business card with the time Leave a business card with the time and date you arrived. and date you arrived.

Showing the PropertyShowing the Property Always bring someone with you if possible, Always bring someone with you if possible,

i.e. mortgage representative, co-worker, i.e. mortgage representative, co-worker, spouse. There is strength in numbers.spouse. There is strength in numbers.

Keep you car keys and cell phone on your Keep you car keys and cell phone on your person. Use a belt clip if necessary.person. Use a belt clip if necessary.

Do not wear expensive jewelry or watches. Do not wear expensive jewelry or watches. This could make you a target of a robbery.This could make you a target of a robbery.

Would the clothes and shoes you are Would the clothes and shoes you are wearing allow you to escape and run if wearing allow you to escape and run if necessary. Dress professionally but also necessary. Dress professionally but also for the weather. for the weather.

If carrying a personal protection If carrying a personal protection item, do you know how to use it and item, do you know how to use it and is it ready to use. is it ready to use.

Verify a prospective buyers Verify a prospective buyers information at an Open House with a information at an Open House with a Drivers License and call it in to the Drivers License and call it in to the office or voicemail if no one can be office or voicemail if no one can be reached. reached.

Leave the front door open while the Leave the front door open while the prospective buyer is inside. prospective buyer is inside.

Never put your back to the Never put your back to the prospective buyer. Let them walk in prospective buyer. Let them walk in front of you and stay in the doorway front of you and stay in the doorway as they go into the rooms.as they go into the rooms.

If they are going to isolated areas in If they are going to isolated areas in the house like a basement, let them the house like a basement, let them go on their own.go on their own.

Have your office, spouse, or friend Have your office, spouse, or friend call and check in on you every hour.call and check in on you every hour.

Closing the PropertyClosing the Property Have a person show up to help you Have a person show up to help you

close if possible. close if possible. If the house is a two story, start from If the house is a two story, start from

the top and work your way to the the top and work your way to the bottom. Work back to front.bottom. Work back to front.

Check all doors and windows, some Check all doors and windows, some burglars viewed a house earlier in the burglars viewed a house earlier in the day unlocking a window and came day unlocking a window and came back in the evening to remove items.back in the evening to remove items.

Dangerous SituationsDangerous Situations The GOAL is always to escape or get The GOAL is always to escape or get

away!away! Try and remove yourself from the Try and remove yourself from the

home or area and call 9-1-1.home or area and call 9-1-1. There is no right way to respond to There is no right way to respond to

any given situation. Things like any given situation. Things like location, clothing, size of the attacker, location, clothing, size of the attacker, number of attackers, personal number of attackers, personal protection equipment all play into the protection equipment all play into the escape. escape.

You must rely on your training and You must rely on your training and judgment to choose the best option.judgment to choose the best option. No resistance- robbery vs. sexual assaultNo resistance- robbery vs. sexual assault Stalling for time- when the attackers Stalling for time- when the attackers

guard is down, escape.guard is down, escape. Distraction and then flightDistraction and then flight Verbal assertiveness- Yell at the attacker, Verbal assertiveness- Yell at the attacker,

“Stay Back”. Many attackers stated they “Stay Back”. Many attackers stated they are less likely to continue with someone are less likely to continue with someone who will fight or challenge them.who will fight or challenge them.

Physical resistance- last resort and get Physical resistance- last resort and get away at the first opportunity. Are you away at the first opportunity. Are you physically fit and how is your stamina? physically fit and how is your stamina?

(Real Estate Safety Council and New York State Association of REALTORS@)(Real Estate Safety Council and New York State Association of REALTORS@)

General Safety for General Safety for RealtorsRealtors

Marketing materials - Do not place Marketing materials - Do not place your picture or first name on your your picture or first name on your business card or other items. Use business card or other items. Use your first initial, i.e., Jennifer Thomas your first initial, i.e., Jennifer Thomas as J. Thomas or J.C. Thomas.as J. Thomas or J.C. Thomas.

Know how to use your personnel Know how to use your personnel defense system like pepper spray. defense system like pepper spray. Have you taken self-defense classes Have you taken self-defense classes and do you practice?and do you practice?

Trust you gut feeling! Trust you gut feeling!

Any Questions?Any Questions?

Officer Kory Sneed

Scottsdale Police Department

Crime Prevention Officer

480-312-5696