Local Stager Feared Assault
Today at the weekly Realtors Marketing Association in San Ramon, Cathy Lee, well-known stager and owner of CLDesigns told me she feared for her life the other night when two very intimidating men walked in on her while she was staging a $2 million new construction home in Lafayette, CA.
The power had yet to be hooked up and the light was fading when the first man entered. The man was acting and talking strange. When the second man entered Cathy reached for her phone only to discover she had set it down across the room. As she moved toward her phone, one of the men blocked her path.
It was at that moment, that Kurt Waag, Cathy’s husband showed up and saved the day. After the men left and Cathy settled down a bit, she and Kurt checked the house and discovered that all of the doors had been unlocked by the two men leading them to think that maybe burglary was also in the works.
Cathy told me she is going to sign up for Pam Ellis’ women’s self-defense class – Staying Alive.
We continue to bring situations like this to the attention of local real estate agents and affiliates to help raise awareness of the need to “think safety” all the time when showing property or sitting open houses.
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July 26th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
I am so grateful that Cathy’s husband arrived when he did!
It’s a sad but true fact that we, in the Real Estate inudstry, are easy to track (just follow the signs), easy to watch, easy to approach, and easy to attack (often alone in vacant homes). No matter what way you look at it, these are our unique job-related elements that make us vulnerable to predators.
My goal is to provide people with some tools to protect their lives. My hope is that they will get some training BEFORE they need it.
Cathy had a “close call,” and one that has traumatized her. The trauma doesn’t go away just because the event is over. She will feel fear now, different than before this happened. Cathy’s husband will also fear for her. They will both think about it, and she will dream about it. She will definitely be looking for signs of strange behavior from people in the future. And she will take a self defense class to help her gain skills and confidence.
The fear factor comes from the thought that we will lose something vital to us…our life (murder), our sexuality (rape), or our loved ones. The fear factor is infinitely higher when we have no idea what to do to defend our vitality in the event it is threatened.
Taking a self defense class will not prevent perpetrators from stalking people. But after taking a good self defense class, people justifiably feel more confident and carry themselves in a way that will convey this confidence. Students gain AWARENESS and the necessity to respond FAST when threatened.
My next class is scheduled to start September 26th, coinciding with National Realtor Safety Week. The class is 6 weeks long, and teaches ESCAPES, STRIKES, VOCALIZATION SKILLS, and ways to save one’s LIFE. These skills are practiced with so much repetition that they become psychomotor skills (performed without thought). Please visit my website for more information.
Be Safe,
Pam Ellis
Staying Alive Defense
July 27th, 2007 at 1:59 am
John,
That is chilling and very frightening! Cathy is so sweet that it pains me to even think if Kurt had not walked in on this situation.
I believe that it is time for large brokerages and affiliates to consider the following steps:
1. All open houses have mobile video set ups with signs posted. Yes it feels like a 7-11 but a big brother is watching approach is needed.
2. Work in pairs when on site.
3. Carry small boaters’ airhorn. They make huge noise that can be heard for hundreds of yards.
4. When working at night, in a remote area, or alone have your cell phone on with ear piece and somebody on speed dial who will respond! I am not sure that 911 is the best number to call with all of the horror stories on lax 911 call centers.
5. Self Defense courses are good but would never have helped in Cathy’s situation.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:16 am
Tuesday I had a stranger appear in the living room of the high end home I was staging in San Leandro. I was unpacking my accessories and when I stood up he was behind me. I asked if he was a realtor. He said he was a broker, but did not give me his name or have a business card. He was wearing a T shirt and shorts.
He told me the listing agent told him to stop by and see my work. I asked him to leave as I really should not have him in the home while I was working. He said
he followed me in while I was carrying in my boxes and finally left. Today I called the listing agent and he said he never asked anyone to visit the home to see my work. Scary news for me, twice in one week!!
My assistant moved to Portland 4 weeks ago-she was
my protector, my third arm, my best friend and I miss her more than words can describe.
I am enrolled in Pam’s next class in Sept. and I am going to encourage the local stager’s in my networking group to join me this fall. My friend’s son is going to stage with me until I find a new assistant. Be Safe Everyone!!!
July 27th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
I have heard about a recent burglary of a staged home - everything taken, including the bath towels. A Keller Williams agent also told me about a property of hers being broken into. Half of the furniture was in the garage ready to be loaded up and whisked away.
It appears we have some very unsavory characters on the loose in Contra Costa County. Learn to use your cell phone’s camera to take quick shots of suspicious people and events - and how to quickly email them to someone.
July 28th, 2007 at 12:07 am
I need to upgrade my phone!
July 29th, 2007 at 5:55 am
It is importnat for everyone in the real estate business, especially women, to be cautious with their practices.
Thank you for bringing it up again- we all need to hear it and remember so we can prevent bad things from happening.
July 29th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Vacant homes have been my worst nightmare. Someone always knows where I am and who I am with and I won’t show a vacant home to someone I don’t know without first snapping a picture of a drivers license, which is sent to the internet and stored for future reference.
You phone is your friend and mine is always in my hand.
July 29th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Teresa - I have passed your advise on using cell phone cameras as self-protection to all the marketing meetings I attend. I think it is one of the best uses of technology for safety there is.
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