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True story

By
Mortgage and Lending with VanDyk Mortgage

I heard this on the radio this past Tuesday and thought it was appropriate to share.  One of the local stations has a segment called "tirade Tuesdays" where listeners call in with their rants about government, co-workers, bosses, customer service, in-laws, etc...you get the picture.  Well this one guy calls in and tells the story about the home next to his that's been for sale for about 3 years, is run down, door has been kicked in,  been used by the homeless and the drug dealers.  Late one evening he comes home to find a vehicle parked in front of the house.  He calls the local police to report it, gets his pistol, and goes out to protect his house in case they decide to try and break into his place.  One police officer shows and doesn't even get out of the car before asking, "what do you want me to do about it?"  He says the back door had been kicked in and they are probably dealing drugs out of the place.  The officer agrees to take a look, and they both go around back with flashlights and guns drawn.  Apparently witnesses are allowed to participate as long as they bring their own gun and flashlight.  They are looking around when they notice a light coming under a closed door.  The officer opens the door, and there are two people smoking crack in the closet.  The officer tells the female to go into the other room with the guy who called it in while he cuffs the male.  The officer places the male in the back of the squad car and goes back into the house to talk to the female.  At this point, the guy who called it in goes home thinking he's done his civic duty and the officer can handle it from here.  drug addict amy winehouse picture

About 20 minutes later he looks out, and the male has been released from the cuffs and been issues a ticket.  The guy who called it in is a bit irate about this so he goes out to talk to the officer who tells them that the violators had been released because they didn't actually witness them smoking the crack, and they had smoked it all before the police got there so all they could get them for was possession of drug paraphernalia.  The guys asks about breaking and entering or trespass.  The officer replies..."well we can't book them for that because she had a key.....she's the realtor for the place."  

And the owner is probably wondering why the place hasn't sold.

Laura Giannotta
Keller Williams Realty - Atlantic Shore - Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Your Realtor Down the Shore!

WOW!  That's an amazing story...and that's only from the next door neighbor, imangine the rant of the homeowner!

Doesn't do much for our image as professionals!!  :)  

Jul 11, 2008 12:18 AM
Marko Vucurevic
VanDyk Mortgage - Matthews, NC

Laura, to top it off...the reason they gave for doing the drugs in the house was that they have children at home.  As always, it's good to hear from you.

Jul 11, 2008 08:32 AM
Eleanor Thorne
Equity Resources - Cary, NC
Advantage Lending 919-649-5058

Featured in Week In Review

Jul 14, 2008 01:31 AM
Marko Vucurevic
VanDyk Mortgage - Matthews, NC

Eleanor, thanks.  As the guy on the radio was telling the story, it was entertaining.  When he learned it was the realtor involved I knew I had to share it with activerain.

Jul 14, 2008 01:59 AM
Steve Loynd
Alpine Lakes Real Estate Inc., - Lincoln, NH
800-926-5653, White Mountains NH

Marko, I heard a story about a Realtor running a yard sale for sellers while they were out of town closing on the new house. It turned out someone actually over heard a Realtor telling a friend at a bar about his clients moving and being gone for 3 or 4 days over this coming weekend, so this bar patron got the idea to pose as the broker and sell everything while the owners were away.

Steve

Jul 14, 2008 02:24 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Hopefully the guy called the brokerage.  Steve...you never know what someone will try to pull.

Jul 14, 2008 03:03 AM
Marko Vucurevic
VanDyk Mortgage - Matthews, NC

Steve, the guy had to have "cajones grande" to pull that off.  That outdoes the realtor smoking crack in the house big time.  Thanks.

William, the guy did say he had called the realtor the next day to "inquire about the property".  When the realtor told him it was a difficult property to sell, the guy broke out with "yeah, because you're there smoking crack all the time".  He didn't call the broker, but did manage to contact the homeowner to tell what happened.

Jul 14, 2008 03:12 AM
Jim & Maria Hart
Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC
Charleston, SC Real Estate

As shocking as this story sounds, it doesn't surprise me all that much.  There are some very strange people in this world, and our industry is not immune.  It sucks that they were let off the hook with only a ticket -- I'm sure they returned to do it again.

Jul 14, 2008 03:56 AM
Marko Vucurevic
VanDyk Mortgage - Matthews, NC

Jim and Maria, thanks for the comments.  I have to agree that there are strange people in the world and as the news or tabloids point out all the time, no industry is immune.

Jul 14, 2008 04:46 AM
Karen Cheek
United Country Real Estate - Wichita, KS

My jaw is on the floor. I want so bad to say..."Is this for real?!" except obviously it is!! UNbelieveable!! That just set our profession back a few hundred years...

Jul 14, 2008 07:32 AM
Marko Vucurevic
VanDyk Mortgage - Matthews, NC

Karen, thanks for commenting, now please replace your jaw into it's socket.  Rug burns are bad enough, but to have them on the bottom of your chin...people will start asking questions.

Jul 14, 2008 10:18 AM
DEREK CHAPMAN
RE/MAX Realty Professionals - Wichita, KS

Yeah....and I didn't appreciate him calling the police on me while we were in that closet!

Jul 24, 2008 05:08 PM
Marko Vucurevic
VanDyk Mortgage - Matthews, NC

Derek, I tried to keep your name out of it.  I thought the intervention would have had more affect on you.  Dude, get some help.  Practice this phone call...." Hello, my name is Derek and I'm an addict"

Jul 28, 2008 01:26 AM
Jay Lundeen
Jim Maloof REALTOR - Morton, IL

Truth is always stranger than fiction.

Jul 28, 2008 02:26 AM
Marko Vucurevic
VanDyk Mortgage - Matthews, NC

Jay, it makes you wonder what other things may have been done in that listing, or others like it?  Thanks for commenting and let me know if there are other stories like this one.

Jul 28, 2008 02:47 AM
Melissa Moore Albert
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Morrisville, NC
Morrisville, NC Homes

This is a hoot! It's amazing what some folks will do while on the job...lol...thanks for sharing.

Aug 09, 2008 06:20 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

I really liked the part where witnesses can participate as long as they bring their own gun and flashlight. That's too much.

Apr 04, 2009 02:59 AM