| Recently a realtor in the Bay Area of Northern | | | | phone. The best scenario is to go to the showing |
| California was raped and almost murdered. She | | | | in two different cars, but if this is not possible, try |
| had received several calls from a "prospective | | | | to be the driver. This will give you somewhat of |
| buyer" making appointments to see a particular | | | | an advantage. |
| house. Each time he cancelled the appointment | | | | * Always have the person enter the residence or |
| with a plausible excuse. The fourth time he called | | | | rooms in front of you. Never put your back to |
| he told the realtor he was in the neighborhood | | | | the person or allow yourself to be cornered. |
| and requested her to meet him at the house. She | | | | * Have area police phone number on speed dial on |
| arrived before the "buyer" and when the "buyer" | | | | your cell phone. |
| entered the residence he immediately grabbed the | | | | * DO NOT be lulled into a false sense of security |
| realtor by the throat and began choking her. She | | | | by a female "buyer". There are more and more |
| struggled with him and he stopped choking her | | | | cases of women being used to set up robberies |
| and proceeded to rape her. After raping her he | | | | and even rape. |
| again started to choke her. She managed to | | | | * Always follow your gut feelings. If something |
| remove his hands from her throat and began | | | | doesn't feel right, pass on it. |
| talking to him. | | | | * When alone in your office at night be sure the |
| She gained his confidence and learned he had | | | | doors are locked, preferably with deadbolts, have |
| recently been released from prison and could not | | | | the blinds drawn and DO NOT open the door to |
| find a job. She told him she could find him a job | | | | anyone you do not know well enough to trust. |
| and he allowed her to call someone to talk about | | | | * One very important thing is to have your mind |
| a possible job opening. He then left and a couple | | | | conditioned and ready to react in case of |
| of days later he called the realtor about the job. | | | | emergency. Think about all the vulnerable positions |
| She set up an appointment for him which he | | | | you may find yourself in and think about what |
| kept, as did the police. He was arrested and | | | | you would do if someone tried to attack you. Play |
| hopefully will be returned to prison where he | | | | the scenario over and over in your mind so that if |
| belongs. | | | | it were to ever occur you would react |
| This realtor is very lucky to be alive. It is very | | | | automatically and quickly and not freeze or panic. |
| rare that someone intent on killing you can be | | | | * Carry a self defense product with you, have it |
| talked out of it. Most of the time it ends in | | | | ready, and know how to use it without hesitation. |
| tragedy for the victim as in the recent murder of | | | | At the very least every realtor should carry |
| a real estate agent in Texas by a parolee. | | | | pepper spray. A pepper spray pen could be |
| Real estate agents are particularly vulnerable to | | | | carried very inconspicuously and would be at the |
| attack by predators. When interrogated by the | | | | ready should the need arise. The use of this |
| police the suspect in the Bay Area rape was | | | | product should allow the realtor to escape from |
| asked why he picked a real estate agent to | | | | the predator without confrontation. In case the |
| attack. He said a fellow inmate had told him that | | | | attacker gets within close range maybe a C2 |
| agents have cars, money and are alone in a | | | | Taser stun gun/taser would be a good choice. |
| house, making them easy pickin's. | | | | The Pretender 950,000 volt cell phone stun gun |
| There are several things agents can do to | | | | looks like a camera cell phone but can temporarily |
| protect themselves: | | | | disable the attacker giving the realtor time to |
| * Have a prospective buyer meet you in your | | | | escape and summon the police. |
| office, NOT AT THE PROPERTY, preferably with | | | | The key to not becoming a victim is awareness |
| co-workers present and NOT near closing time. | | | | of your situation at all times, being mentally and |
| Obtain identification from the buyer in the form of | | | | physically prepared to protect yourself, and having |
| a drivers license and their vehicle license number. | | | | the element of surprise on your side with a self |
| Leave this information with a responsible person in | | | | defense product. Just pretend you are a gazelle |
| your office and advise them where you are going. | | | | at the watering hole, constantly looking around for |
| * If possible, have someone go with you to the | | | | the ever present predator. |
| showing and have them wait in the car with a cell | | | | |