Robbery of realtor shocks home seller

House where two men tied up the woman is in a quiet residential area, builder says

Neal Hall
Sun

Realtor Edie Takahashi freed herself and went to a nearby house to call police.

SURREY - Surrey house builder Makhan Mann was shocked to learn the female realtor trying to sell his home was tied up and robbed earlier this week.

"She's a very nice lady," he said Thursday. "This is the first time this has happened."

He described the Fleetwood neighbourhood where he has three new homes for sale as a quiet residential area.

He's asking $1.7 million for the home Surrey realtor Edie Takahashi was showing in the 16400-block of 86B Avenue on Tuesday evening.

Posing as potential home buyers, two men bound, gagged and robbed her before fleeing.

She freed herself and went to a nearby house to call police. Contacted Thursday, Takahashi said she was meeting with the RCMP and couldn't immediately discuss the matter.

A composite drawing of the suspects is expected to be released Monday.

One of the men is described as south Asian in his late 20s with a trim build and short dark hair. He stands about six feet tall and was wearing dark pants during the attack.

The other is an Asian male about 5-foot-3 with short dark hair. He was wearing light grey pants and a grey jacket.

Attacks on realtors showing homes are rare, said Brian Naphtali, president of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.

"The last one was four years ago," said Naphtali, who recalled that case also involved a woman, who was showing a home in downtown Vancouver. She was tied up, threatened and robbed of her purse. He said real estate boards provide safety advice for agents showing homes alone, especially at night.

"My wife's a realtor and if she gets a call at night and she's the least [bit] uncomfortable, I'll go with her," Naphtali said.

In 1993, Vancouver Island realtor Janet McLeod was beaten and left for dead while showing an open house in Duncan.

A Victoria man, Ken Hibbert, 49, was convicted of the vicious assault.

McLeod testified that she looked into her attacker's eyes and pleaded for her life as he choked her into unconsciousness.

In 1985, a 37-year-old female realtor was stabbed to death while conducting an open house in Abbotsford.

Wesley Gareth Evans, of Abbotsford, was convicted in the murder but his conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1991.

Anyone with further information about Tuesday's robbery is asked to contact Const. Kevin McLaughlin of Surrey RCMP at (604) 599-7646. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

STAY SAFE WHEN SELLING A HOME

A safety booklet by the Real Estate Board offers tips to new realtors about some precautions they should take during a showing, including:

- Tell colleagues in the office before going to show a home.

- Program a speed dial for 911 on your cellphone and use it if you feel at risk.

- If you're showing several properties, phone your office occasionally to check in. If you're suspicious or fearful of someone, use these calls as an excuse to return to the office and do whatever is necessary to feel safe.

- After hours, let a family member or co-worker know where you're going and what you'll be doing -- take someone with you if possible.

- Always use your own vehicle or take separate cars. Never ride in a potential buyer's vehicle.

- When showing a property, unlock the door and allow the prospect to enter first. Keep them in front of you during the showing. This will make it difficult for them to trap you.

- Keep the door locked during a home showing and limit the number of visitors to one at a time.

an isolated location, hold it with another real estate agent.

- Plan escape routes from each level of a home before you show it.

- Limit the amount of personal information you share about yourself with a client.

- Ask prospects to sign a guest registry and request business cards from other sales people.

- Don't advertise a listing as vacant.

© The Vancouver Sun 2007