I had a great open house scheduled for yesterday; an AWESOME home, priced to sell and I had lots of interest in this one....I set up, put my purse in a cabinet, out of site but within my site...just like I always do. I am always cautious about this and am ready for my open house!
Apparently, the only intrest was NOT in the house. Please learn from what happened to me and be on the look out for this group!
Early in the day, two ladies come in. I start speaking to them and one speaks no English. The other is looking for a home and is here from Santa Barbara. She says she likes the house and is going to call her husband. I immediately get a strange feeling and stay on my guard. Your gut is usually right.
She hangs up and there are a few others in and out and then a man shows up that gave me that same weird feeling. I send a text to my husband to see if he is near so he can stop by. I make sure I am close to the door but with my eye on my belongings (luckily it is a bank owned home so nothing else really to worry about).
He doesn't answer so I keep my eagle eyes on these three, but stay near a door and keep my eyes on my stuff, noting my purse in the cupboard.
The ladies call me out to ask me a question and I am trying to figure out where that guy is. I go just far enough to answer her questions but I make sure to stay where I can see what is going on inside.....or so I thought. 
They all leave separately but ALL offer to sign my registry. No one offers this!!! So many red flags, I am so mad at myself for not immediately going to that cabinet and holding onto my purse! But by this time, I have a full open house and am busy so I don't even think about it.
Of course you know what I am getting at here. I get home, have a message from CHASE regarding unusual activity on my credit card. Sure enough, WALLET IS GONE!
If you are a North Orange County Agent, be on the look out for the following:
1. Hispanic woman
- late 20's
- about eight months pregnant
- long black hair
- about 5'6"
- bad teeth
- a big scrolling tattoo of a name on her neck. It was like Angelica or something along those lines.
2. Her "sidekick" also Hispanic
- late 20's and does not speak English
- shorter and pretty
- long wavy hair
3. Hispanic Man (will come in seemingly unrelated)
- early to mid 30's
- nicely dressed
- about 5'9"
Go with your gut! They know how to get you distracted. I was even on to them and I STILL GOT IT! If you feel like something is wrong, it probably is. I am now locking everything in my car trunk that I do not absolutely need. I am not sure how much better that is. With all the "smash and grabs" going on the car isn't safe either!
It's obviously not just the money, the cards, the inconvenience, the violated feeling but the huge amount of time it is going to take me to get this sorted out! If this helps even one agent then I feel a little better. This economy is bringing out desperate people!
Please, spread the word and be on the look out!
7/20/09 UPDATE - Two other Realtors I spoke to have seen this group (pregnant woman with huge neck tatoo is easy to remember). BE ON THE LOOK OUT!
ALSO, I just found out about another agent that had this happen the same weekend in the same area. The local board has been notified and they are sending out the alert!
Cristal - This is terrible stuff. I'm sorry to hear that this happened to you. Kudos for spreading the word!
This is sad for you -- never leave a purse unattended and frankly this is all the more reason not to have open houses -- especially in this current market economy -- there are many stories across the country of these type of things occurring. People need money and they resort to stealing.
Cristal - I'm so sorry to hear this happened to you but I'm really impressed with you sharing your story and helping to prevent this from happening to others. Good luck getting everything sorted out quickly and easily.
I'm sorry to hear you had this experience and hope you get your credit straightened out without too much difficulty. It's times like this that we appreciate the software used by the credit card companies that alerts to unusual activity.
I am so sorry about this for you! Everyone tells me to take nothing else to an open house except your phone and keys.......leave the purse at home. I hope they catch these thieves!
Crystal, That is downright scary to read. I'm so sorry this happened but maybe two realtors can work together at open houses....you never do know who is going to come in and it can be dangerous. Try to find someone to accompany you if you can.
This is another reason that we should team up for Opens. One long time agent here that I mentioned this to yesterday said she only brings her cell and her license and leaves the pocketbook home on open houses (or locked in her trunk) I am so happy you are ok though Cristal. Things like this remind us to think of safety first!
That is absolutely horrible! I am so sorry that this happened to you and I know what you ean about the gut feelings and weird feelings. Thankfully, that is all that happened!!! You are still safe and healthly - it was JUST A WALLET! Very glad you are okay!
Cristal - that gut feeling of yours probably saved your life! I wrote a blog awhile back about a book I read called The Gift of Fear and it explains how your intincts most likely saved you.
A few years back, we experienced something similar in our market. "Gangs" of would-be buyers worked the Sunday Opens and stole jewelry, medications, cash, etc. In every case, the host-Realtor just could not watch the four or five people in a group. At the time, many Sellers asked that their homes NOT be held Open for the general public.
Thanks everyone. You are all so right in that it was JUST a wallet. It could have been so much worse and this morning my husband told me how they found an agent stabbed to death in a vacatant house in Los Angeles. He said that he should probably start doing the open houses with me.
This is terrible and I am sorry to hear it. Thanks for sharing. We all need to be reminded how dangerous it is to be a Realtor.
That is seriously scary. Did you end up calling police about it? Perhaps they have similar complaints from other Realors and could get some fingerprints from your clipboard or whatever they got their hands on. So glad you are safe!!
You are so tech savvy, you could always webcast all your Open Houses to the net! Everyone has to walk by the camera! (as well as having someone else there with you)
Cristal,
I'm really sorry to hear this...next time, call Greg Haraksin and then call me.
C - I am so sorry this happened to you. I thought about you yesterday as I was @ my open house & remembered your funny update on f/b while you were at yours. I can't believe they got you when you had a feeling about them also! that's just sneaky!
Cristal-wow how terrible! Thanks for letting everyone know. Weird-I am in NY and we had something like this sent to us through the MLS about 3-4 months ago. Two women doing the same type thing and driving a white car. Thank goodness it was nothing more than the wallet.
Cristal, I am so glad that you are OK. Your instincts make you strong! YOU GO GIRL!
Cristal, I'm on the case. Be sure to check my latest blog, I need you to check out the line-up I've put together, and see if any of these "possible suspects" look familar. Let me know right away, so I can follow up on my leads. -Dwight
Cristal, thank God you're ok!! How scarey!! And your purse was even stashed away in the cupboard - they must have really scoured the place. Wow and they're still on the prowl!! Because of your experience, hopefully future incidents can be prevented and justice will be served. The angels were definitely on your side. You know you're on my mom's prayer list... :)
Hi Cristal:
I found you from Susan Neal's re-blog...
This is one of the reasons that I rarely, if ever, do Open Houses anymore.
When I do, I keep my pocketbook in the vehicle locked up. And I never wear any jewelry.
Sorry to hear about this happening to you.
Thank you for making us aware of this. I am so glad that all they took was your wallet and that you were not physically hurt in the process.