To save on expensive signage, most real estate agents in Dallas are denoting open houses by putting pink flags in sellers' yards. But red flags are waving as four agents have been robbed at gunpoint while sitting alone at recent opens. Will Dallas agents wave the white flag on doing open houses at all?

Senior Corporal Diana Watts, spokesperson for the Dallas Police Department, says, "We have four reports - one in April, one in June and two in July. One victim is male, and the others were female."

Two of the armed robberies, police are certain, were committed by the same man. Realtors are reporting that the gunman enters the property, talks on a cell phone, and then terrorizes the agent with a gun while committing robbery. The gunman then takes the Realtor's car, drives a short distance and abandons the car. Speculation is that an accomplice picks the gunman up for a getaway. Other reports, which may be unrelated, include a man who asks to be shown homes and while he is viewing the homes, he unlocks a window and returns later to burglarize the home.

Terrifying the Realtors is that the agents appear to be the intended victims and the armed robberies are described as violent. One Realtor was threatened with a gun in her face, and another Realtor was hit on the head with the gun while being robbed of expensive jewelry, including a new wedding ring.

The rash of robberies and burglaries has put the Realtor community on notice. Police, local associations and brokers are doing their part to educate and inform local agents of the dangers of open houses.

Bill Head, director of communications for Greater Dallas Association of Realtors, says, "Once the robberies are reported to us, we will put it on the MLS log-on screen as security alerts, with the police report number. And we have just had a North Dallas MLS meeting, and a police officer went into detail about the robbers including their patterns. We took information from the police and put together a safety guide, which is available on Dallasrealtor.com. We've located some hotline numbers, 214-670-3998 or 972-594-8846, to hire off-duty or retired police officers for security, and suggesting that agents cut costs by clustering open houses together. For three to four hours, you can have an officer patrol from house to house. The cost is about $30-$50 per hour, for a minimum of four hours."

GDAR will also make a police officer available for office meetings. "One thing we want to make sure is that for an office meeting or MLS meeting, we are happy to bring an officer out to discuss these things."

Realtor Nora Ling Lane says her broker, Virginia Cook of Virginia Cook, Realtors, has told her associates that doing open houses is up to the agent, but that she would back agents who decline to do them for clients.

"I am not going to do them anymore," says Lane, "but others say they are going to do them with police protection or by taking loan officers and other people with them. I know of at least one North Dallas broker who has told his associates not to do open houses anymore."

Lane explains that some agents who want to continue to hold open houses are asking for identification from buyers. "They are putting notes on the door explaining the recent robberies and that identification will be required to enter the home," says Lane. "There has been enough publicity about what's happened that most buyers don't mind. They understand it is for the safety of the agent."

Head suggests that agents who want to continue to do open houses take more precautions.

"We will continue to get the message out," says Head, "and we want to make sure everybody has the information and they can decide whether they want to continue to hold open houses.

"If you are holding an open house alone, keep the door locked and meet the prospect in the front yard, look at their drivers' license, and if there is not an automobile, that would raise a big question with me. If you meet them, verify identification and call your voice mail and say I'm at an open and about to show the house to Steve Smith and give the driver's license. If you write it down, they can tear up the paper after they rob you. One thing they are doing is taking cell phones, too."

"We want to help them create a safer work environment," he continues. "If you ask for their driver's license and they are uncomfortable, don't let them in. Suggest that they schedule an appointment."

Published: August 9, 2002

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Blanche Evans is the award-winning senior editor of Realty Times, the Internet's leading independent real estate news service. She is featured daily on the Realty Times Video Network in the "Realty Viewpoint" segment. Blanche has been named one of the "25 Most Influential People In Real Estate" by REALTOR Magazine, and has been twice recognized as a "notable." In 2005, she was named "Top Reporter Covering the NAR" by Delahaye-Bacon's. Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. To contact Blanche, email her at . For more articles by Blanche, click here.