Burglars Lure Homeowners Away by Posing as Realtors

Listing your home for sale can make you very vulnerable to burglary. There are photos of your interior on the internet, your key is in a lockbox hanging by the door, and people are continually coming and going. Be sure to check out the tips below from the Chandler Police Department to find out how you can avoid becoming the next victim.

ABC 15 Story/Interview of Victim

Chandler Police Department Official Informational Release
July 9, 2009

The Chandler Police Department is investigating two cases of burglary of homes during real estate showings. Suspects are posing as either 'buyers' or as real estate agents, gaining access to homes and then burglarizing them. Police believe there may be more cases that have not been discovered or reported.

Recently, a homeowner received a call from a woman claiming to be a real estate agent who requested to show his house to a client. The victim left his house at the appointment time. Upon his return an hour later, he noticed a newer model white Honda S-U-V was parked in front of his home. The victim presumed the vehicle to be that of the real estate agent. The victim saw a caucasian female and male exit his front door and quickly walk to the SUV and drive away. Once inside his home, the victim noticed small items moved and a key missing off of his mailbox key ring. A check of the data recorded on the real estate key lock box showed that no one had used the box that day to obtain entry into the house. It appears the suspects obtained the victim's house key at an earlier date while being shown the house by an actual real estate agent or the suspect may be a real estate agent who accessed the home.

On a separate occassion, another victim's house was burglarized during a supposed real estate showing. That victim's listing real estate agent received a call from a female stating that she was an agent who wanted to show the house to a client. The listing agent gave the suspect the front door key code and scheduled a showing for the house without the victims present. When the victims returned home they noticed jewelry and coins missing.

The Arizona Department of Real Estate has been contacted and is notifying agents/ brokers of this criminal activity.

Here are some tips to prevent this from happening to you:

• Get the name of the real estate agent and company along with the phone number and call back the number to verify.
• Secure any valuables, to include keys, guns, jewelry and medications.
• Be sure that YOUR real estate sales person is present when the home is being shown.
• Be present while your home is shown.
• Copy down the license plate number of any vehicles driven by the real estate salesperson and the "buyers".
• Get a good description of the people who are looking at your home.
• Verify if a person is an active real estate agent or broker by contacting the Arizona Department of Real Estate on line at: http://www.re.state.az.us

To keep your family and property safe, you should also consider contacting a Gilbert, Arizona home security company.