Police said a man admitted he kidnapped and robbed a real estate
agent at knife point after the woman showed him one of her listed properties in
West York, PA.
Gregory
S. Knaub, no fixed address, was arrested after responding officers found him
hiding in the waters of the Codorus Creek, according to West York Police Chief
Justin D. Seibel.
Police
said the victim, a real estate agent for Prudential Bob Yost Realtors, had finished
showing Knaub a property when he got into the back of her car, pulled a steak
knife, and demanded money or an ATM card.
The
victim did not have money on her, so Knaub ordered her to drive to an ATM,
police said.
She
was forced to withdraw cash from the ATM and then ordered to drive to the
intersection of Belvidere and King streets in York, where Knaub jumped out of
the car and fled, police said.
About
an hour later, an investigating officer spotted Knaub sitting on a park bench
in Bantz Park. Knaub saw the cruiser and fled into a wooded area along the
creek, police said.
Officers
from York City and West Manchester Township assisted in setting up a perimeter
around the woods and were waiting for a bloodhound to arrive when Knaub popped
up from beneath the water and was arrested, police said.
Knaub
said he was hiding in the water and was popping up for air every few seconds in
an attempt to hide, police said.
He
was charged with kidnapping, robbery, unlawful restraint, theft by unlawful
taking, receiving stolen property, and false imprisonment.
____________
This article stated that the suspect had no “fixed
address”, which means he had no permanent address. I can’t help but think that if the agent had
met him at her office and required a driver’s license or some other form of
identification, she would have determined this “client” was not
legitimate.
Another option would have been to refer him to a
mortgage lender for a pre-approval letter.
That would have determined very quickly if this person was qualified to
purchase a home, and if he was who he claimed to be.
I can’t overstate to real estate agents the
importance of a great mortgage lender as part of your professional team. Lenders not only qualify your clients for
home purchases, they also pre-screen them and act as a first line of security.
Safety is not an accident…..it is the result of
smart procedures and solid planning.
Before meeting clients, make sure they are pre-approved and
pre-screened!
Until next time,
Stay Safe!
No comments:
Post a Comment