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Women realtors are on edge after incidents of a man stalking and trying to lure women alone has prompted warnings from the Ottawa Real Estate Board.
?He has been attempting to get people into a compromising situation where he can take advantage of it,? said Ansel Clarke, board president, of two reports within the last month. ?They realize he?s had ulterior motives. It?s very scary.?
In one incident, a man tried several times to lure a woman to the basement and lock the door, according to board officials.
In another case, a man was looking to buy an equestrian farm, but backed off then later showed up at the realtor?s open house. He was challenged about financial shortcomings and became ?very aggressive? about that, said Clarke.
The same man is also believed to be going to open houses and contacting other women relators, posing as an interested buyer. But when the agents meet the man, they realize he does not have the intent or means to actually buy a home.
?He?s using that as a guise to be in contact with realtors,? said Clarke. (continued below the links)
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IS THIS AN ISSUE FOR YOU? Here are some safety tips from two major websites:
About.com: Real estate agent safety tips
Businessknowhow.com: Tips for offsite meetings and personal safety
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Warnings have circulated among board members, where women make up about half of the 2,800 membership.
The incidents have also prompted realtors to post possible sightings of the man on Facebook, including in Stittsville this weekend.
Re/Max broker Natalie Belovic, who has been in the industry for more than 30 years, said the job does come with some risks.
?Gut (instinct) definitely plays a part,? said Belovic. ?We have to be very vigilant and watchful.?
Belovic, who gets as much information as she can before meeting, never lets the buyer walk in behind her at a property and if she feels ?creeped out,? stands by the door, with cellphone in hand.
Open houses are riskiest, say realtors, since strangers can walk in off the street.
Realtors, who have long taken safety precautions, are not forced to host open houses, according to the board, which encourages them to bring someone along.
While such cases are rare, the high-profile murder of 24-year-old realtor Lindsay Buziak, who was killed while showing a home for sale in B.C. in 2008, shocked the industry.
Police said Monday ?there are leads? in the investigation, which continues.
The suspect is a white man, about 6-feet-tall, with pale skin, dark red hair and about 45 years old. He is fit and wore a suit and glasses, according to the board.
Twitter: @ottawasundbell
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