Homeowners – Be Careful! Phoenix home seller victim of robbery / assault

by Jay Thompson on August 28, 2009

I just received this email notice from the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service.

BE CAREFUL FOLKS! There are criminals out there that will use every advantage they have. Never, ever, let a stranger into your home – no matter how bad you want it sold or how nice they seem…

The police are looking for suspects in a West side robbery/assault.

ARMLS has been asked to alert all agents to an assault and robbery that occurred at a listing near Old Town Glendale (vicinity of 43rd Ave. and Glendale Ave.) earlier this week.

The homeowner was watering his front lawn when he was approached by a passing couple who asked if they could see the house. The homeowner did what agents teach homeowners to do and referred the inquiry to the listing agent. The couple stayed and continued to talk to the homeowner and after some casual conversation the owner changed his mind and allowed the seemingly nice couple into the house.

Once inside, they asked about the neighborhood, then the female pointed to something on the floor and asked what it was. When the homeowner bent over to inspect, the male visitor attacked him from behind and beat him severely. They robbed him of money and damaged his cell phone so he could not call police.

The assailants are described as white, late 30′s to early 40′s in age. The man is 5’8" to 5’9" and the woman slightly smaller, both medium build. The homeowner has been unable to provide more details. They are driving a late model brown/dark gold 4-door Buick with a distinctive radio antenna – it’s a coat hanger. If you see such a couple in this car, you are urged to contact the local police department with a location and if possible a license plate number.

ARMLS urges you to reconfirm with your sellers that access to the home should never be allowed to someone the owner does not know. All inquiries should be referred to the listing agent, for the homeowner’s own protection.

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New Homeowners

So true! This is especially helpful to new homeowners. Often thieves will stage a “welcome to the neighborhood” meeting as an excuse to poke around your home withe the intent of coming back later. Just be careful!

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New Homeownerswiki/M

So true! This is especially helpful to new homeowners. Often thieves will stage a "welcome to the neighborhood" meeting as an excuse to poke around your home withe the intent of coming back later. Just be careful!

Kai Lo

I will always use a real estate agent to protect myself from victim of robbery. I hope this will never happen to me!

Kai

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KarenHaney

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ogdenutahhomes

We should be cautious these days because we won't know if when are these criminals will going to strike our home.Criminals are criminals and they didn't chose their victims.

Jesse

Its unfortunate, but we hear similar issues arise in our area every so often. Home sellers need to be really careful when they open their doors to anyone interested. I have told people in the past, if you are not comfortable with someone, don't let them in.Jesse<a rel="follow" href="http://realestatelicensedirect.com" rel="nofollow">Real Estate License Direct

larryhotz

Thanks for spreading the word about this awful crime. Of course, we tell our Sellers to funnel all showings though us. This is exactly why that makes sense. It is an inherent danger in some markets where showings can go though the Seller and not the Broker. That goes double for "By Owner" listings.

JoeColleen

Yikes! This is another reason for a homeowner to use a real estate agent. I would imagine FSBOs have a greater chance of this type of behavior occurring.

Gainesville Real Est

That's horrible! What a random act of violence. You can never be too careful these days. I'm tempted to get a concealed weapons permit, but I don't know how much that would help in this case.

BradYeager

There was a similar line of attacks in San Diego, but they were contracted house painters (from Mexico). construction leads

So true! This is especially helpful to new homeowners. Often thieves will stage a u00e2u0080u009cwelcome to the neighborhoodu00e2u0080u009d meeting as an excuse to poke around your home withe the intent of coming back later. Just be careful!