Victim, Brokers Advise Others To Lock Up Valuables As Thief Targets High-End Open Houses
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A man pretending to be interested in buying property has been helping himself to a buffet of people's belongings.
As CBS2's Valerie Castro reported, the man has walked off with a fistful of valuables from the Upper East side.
"If somebody is going to walk in and steal something it's a pretty frightening situation," Michele Kleier said.
Police sources said last month, at three different properties a man posing as a real estate broker or an attorney walked in during an open house and walked out with expensive jewelry.
One victim, who didn't want to be identified, said he rummaged through her bathroom drawers.
"I had some gold jewelry my mother gave me, and that's gone now so that's the lousy part," she said.
So far the thief has gotten away with more than $20,000 in valuables.
"I think what's going on right now is extremely scary. We're always very cautious when we do an open house. We never let people wander around, but now we're on high alert," Sabrina Kleier said.
Sabrina and her mother Michele sell luxury real estate in the area where the thefts occurred. They said the suspect has brokers everywhere on edge.
"We're all emailing each other and calling each other, 'did you see him? Is he still there?" Michele said.
For anyone selling their home the Kleier's advice is to lock up your valuables.
"I think a homeowner really does have to have either a locked closet or at least a safe where they have to bury their valuables," Michele said.
The victim had the same advice.
"Get a safe," she said.
Police have not released a picture or description of the suspect.
