Local Realtors on High Alert
The following e-mail from a local realtor has been circulating with this attachment. And I’ve got to say, open houses have never seemed like a good idea. I’m just sayin’.
This is the man who signed in as “Max Holloway” during my open house at [street number] Princeton. He is also the man [agent’s name] was showing houses to under the name Steven Breed when jewelry was found missing. Please contact Detective Chad Chadwick of Highland Park Police if you have any information or any questions, 214-559-9362. He is still showing up at Open Houses where later jewelry has been discovered missing. [name of realtor] caught him opening drawers in an Open House two weekends ago…Please get this out to as many real estate agents as you can to warn them to be on the alert at Open Houses. Also be alert if he should call on one of your listings as he did with [name of another realtor].
We recently moved and just discovered our jewelry was missing last week. We were attributing it to a painter, but we had several open houses.
I was always leary of open houses when selling. And on another note, if I were a realtor, I would seriously have to consider carry a concealed handgun.
Who doesn’t remove their jewelry or put it in a safe when they’re having an open house? (These people I guess).
Same goes for the Xanax and Vicodin in your medicine cabinet.
Ours was very hidden…but obviously not hidden enough…
As an agent, I always advise my clients to put it in a safe, or take it out of the house (all jewlery, meds, and guns.) Remember, these are professional thiefs and are experts and quick moves and concealment. Even a watchful agent can’t be everywhere at once during an open house. Planning is your first line of defense against this! My heart goes out to those who have been violated by this.