Special offer

Glad we were there or it could have been a different outcome!

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty LLC 200311024


One of my clients lives in an area that apparently has had a series of break in recently.
While I was there I just happen to park in their garage because I needed to stand on my car to look at something. Well, while I was in their living room with my wife she says, “There is someone in the backyard.”

I open the door not letting them know that I wasn’t the home owner, I asked them politely, “WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING BACK HERE AND WHO ARE YOU?” He said “We saw this home on the foreclosure list online.” (RealtyTrac) I told him, “What gives you the right to walk in someone’s private yard no matter what it says online?”

The theif in the backyard

I told him, “You have about 10 seconds to leave this yard before I pull out my gun and help you leave.” He, of course, leaves in a big hurry at that point and me being me, and not trusting anyone, immediately ran to the front window to see a truck with a driver waiting in the street. I write down the description of the passenger, the truck (Including color, license plate #, make and model), and as much as I could about the driver and proceed to call the police.

Now, I get a call an hour later from the police thanking me for the break they have been waiting for! Seems the driver of the truck was on felony parole for theft and just got out of jail about 3 months ago. (Seems about the time the break-in started happening) The officer said, “This gives us probable cause to search his house and his truck and I’m guessing we are going to find something that will put him back in jail for a very, very long time.”

I’ve worked with a lot of clients and there certainly aren’t a lot of buyers that get out of jail for a felony that can qualify for a $450,000 loan on a home 3 months out of jail. If they can, I want to know where he is working because I may change careers… (LOL)

Our guess is they were coming in the backyard to see if anyone was home and if not, the house was going to be cleaned out while my clients were at work. I’m glad I was at the right place at the right time, and hopefully this time when he gets out he will be too old to lift anything to steal. As far as I’m concerned he can stay in jail forever!

Comments(19)

Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

Well oh yes Fearless Shotgun Todd & i'm glad you and your wife are fine...a good hit for the police i'd say...

Jan 30, 2011 03:16 AM
Retired from ActiveRain
Baker, OR

What a great story!  I like reading about good guys helping to catch the bad guys.  Now if you could just help the police capture the shooting suspect from Waldport.  He was on America's Most Wanted last night.

Jan 30, 2011 03:17 AM
Suzanne Gantner
Realty Texas - Round Rock, TX
GRI, E-Pro, SRES, SRS, ABR, CNE, REDS, CPS, WCS

You are also very lucky that they didn't surprise you in the house, it could of been very nasty.  But on the other side of the coin, good for you busting these creeps!!

Jan 30, 2011 03:18 AM
Holly Weatherwax
Associate Broker, Momentum Realty - Reston, VA
A Great Real Estate Experience

Wow! What a dramatic afternoon. Congratulations on your part in catching the bad guys!

Jan 30, 2011 03:27 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

That is wonderful news for local homesowners! Good for you that you took down all of that information for the police and thank heaven you were not harmed!!!

Jan 30, 2011 03:28 AM
Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly Right Real Estate
Kelly Right Real Estate - Hood River, OR
Customized Choices for your Real Estate Needs

Hi Todd,

Good for you - so often being in the right place makes such a difference. May have to start calling you Smith & Wesson (be careful about telling them you will pull a gun, often the bad guys have much bigger firepower).

Mel

Jan 30, 2011 03:29 AM
Michelle Gibson
Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL
REALTOR

Todd - Wow, what a close call and glad you were able to assist the police in finding this guy.  One of my preferred inspectors just had his house broken into, but thankfully his neighbor across the street saw what was alerted by his house alarm going off and with all of the information he collected they caught the three people. 

Jan 30, 2011 03:34 AM
Glenn Roberts
Retired - Seattle, WA

Nice work, Todd. Sticking your neck out a little, but getting the license number sure makes a difference for the police.

Jan 30, 2011 04:27 AM
Debbie Summers
Charles Rutenberg Realty - New Smyrna Beach, FL

Todd - quick thinking to get the tag number...  I always take my husband with me to view properties, you never know what you are going to find or what's going to happen next.

Jan 30, 2011 04:50 AM
Larry Bettag
Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL
Vice-President of National Production

Amazing story Todd.  What's the expression?  Truth is stranger than fiction?  Wow!

Jan 30, 2011 05:14 AM
Gerry Michaels
Glasswork Media Arts - Gettysburg, PA
GettysburgGerry Social Meida

Great job Todd, and now they won't have to worry about getting approved for that loan, they will have a place to live for a while.....

Jan 30, 2011 05:40 AM
June Tassillo
Owner/Broker RE/MAX Elite Realty - Franklin, NC
Let me help you with the next phase of your life!

Todd ~ Glad it has a good ending and he didn't try to fight with you.  I would have done the same thing ran to get the truck make, model and color.  Sometimes our jobs can be scary.  

Jan 30, 2011 05:43 AM
Ken's Home Team LLC. | 360.609.0226 | Portland, OR & Vancouver, WA Real Estate Team
Ken's Home Team LLC. - Vancouver, WA
- SOLD IS OUR FAVORITE 4 LETTER WORD -

Hey easy with the gun buddy, I told you you should not chase people down with that anymore.....

 

Jan 30, 2011 06:49 AM
Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Never a dull moment in the life of a Realtor! Good for you in getting the police the break they needed to keep this guy and his accomplice off the streets!

Jan 30, 2011 07:30 AM
Paula Swayne
Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA
Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

Hi Todd!
That is way cool!  Lucky HE didn't have a gun!  My mom set up a sting one time when there were thieves going to houses stealing jewelry.  The police caught them red-handed stealing watches and rings from my moms house (she had set it up to look like it was for sale).  The bad news....the ring disappeared from police custody!

Jan 30, 2011 08:57 AM
Michelle Francis
Tim Francis Realty LLC - Atlanta, GA
Realtor, Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

Todd, 

It always pays to be vigilant.  I have a funny habit of carrying a Dunkin Donuts coffee on my morning couple mile walk.  Since we cover the same route, I've on occasion scratched information onto the Styrofoam cup to share with the neighborhood about a car, same kind of make and model, license thing.  

No caught burglars, but this seems like it is going to continue to be a challenge in this economy. 

Good work!!!

All the best, Michelle

Jan 30, 2011 11:47 AM
Barb Szabo, CRS
RE/MAX Above & Beyond - Cleveland, OH
E-pro Realtor, Cleveland Ohio Homes

Glad no one was hurt and that they caught this guy. I'll bet your sellers will be clients for life:)

Jan 30, 2011 12:59 PM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

You got lucky, Todd. Here in the Detroit area, police officers get shot confronting people breaking into homes.

Jan 31, 2011 03:46 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

My wife did have our gun, so they weren't going to get to far if something did start to go bad. But, I'm glad we kept the home owners from losing everything and hopefully putting these two behind bars for a very long time. (Sorry fellow tax payers)

Feb 04, 2011 06:39 AM