'Divide-and-conquer' tactic used to steal from home sellers
KALAMA, Wash. - A homeowner and police are sounding the alarm about some bold thieves who've struck twice here.
The crooks are committing their crimes while they're invited guests in people's homes by posing as interested buyers.
The "For Sale" sign outside Dan Mahitka's home created the opportunity for the crime. The crooks told him they were looking to buy a home in Kalama and wanted to look at his.
As soon as Mahitka opened the door to the man and woman, they split up. The man headed to Mahitka's master bathroom and bedroom.
"He was in here, into that closet. He was supposedly taking pictures," Mahitka said.
Meanwhile, the woman wanted to see the view. While out on the back deck with the woman, Mahitka said he felt uncomfortable while the man was going through the house unsupervised.
Then the couple wanted to see his detached garage.
"As soon as we got to the garage, she said, 'Hey, do you mind if I go back inside to the bathroom?'"
Mahitka said that's when he believes some prescription painkillers were stolen. It wasn't until the couple suddenly left that he looked around and realized his medicine was gone, and the couple must have been searching for more things to steal.
"I have a collection of comic books, old ones, and he grabbed the box and flipped them – he was looking for things, I realize it today," Mahitka said.
That same day Kalama police say the couple did the same thing at another house. It's also for sale by owner, and the couple used the same divide-and-conquer tactic to distract the owner and steal jewelry and money.
It's the second time Mahitka has had his home ripped off. He now sleeps with a loaded shotgun by his bed.
Police don't have a lot to go on. The couple is middle-aged, Hispanic and driving a silver Chevy truck with Washington license plates.
This is what mitt wants to do to America.....
So they took what mitt said about the bad housing market to heart???
Wait for your moment and steal as much as you can...
It's Still wrong mitt.....
Any real estate agent will tell you to remove your valuables from your house (and put in a safety deposit box) before you list your house. Â
Yeah a constant camera is a good thing in this situation......too bad illegal aliens do not have license plates on their head for the cameras when they commit crime.
Unless one knows the people in one's home....never let them divide up. Keep them herded like a border collie does.
if your selling your house put your valuables in a storage locker or at relatives house. anything you don't want stolen should be secured somewhere else other than your house.
dang tweakers
I can't believe this story.. I never ever leave my pills in the medicine cabinet.. How stupid..
 @dougrpdx  It's likely that around 9 out of 10 people keep medication in a medicine cabinet. It's hardly "stupid".
Well, these days, I don't think I'd have strangers roaming around my house if I was the only one home... I'd have a relative or a friend or 2 there, too (as well as my S&W .38)... be easier to keep an eye on things, and might discourage at least some of these thieves...   Scrip medicines, jewelry, and anything else of value (especially small, easily-pocketed, items) need to be securely locked up somewhere...
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I know that in some areas, even real estate agents go out in pairs to show houses, because there have been incidents of lone agents being assaulted by the fake "interested buyers"... I remember that there were a few really vicious rapes like that when I lived in Orange Co (CA) in the '80s-early '90s...one lady was even murdered by her assailant.
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You just don't know who's out there anymore...Â
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Glad Mr Mahitka's OK...
Dan, unload that shotgun before you get hurt.
@swimbad Michael's absolutely right; Swimbad is badly misinformed by that old Ann Landers falsehood based on a completely debunked study in Cincinnatti, Ohio, decades ago.
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"Loaded" can mean shells ready in the magazine. In the case of a single or double break-open shotgun, the action can remain safely open until ready to use. In the majority of cases, the home-owner doesn't need to shoot, as most sneakthieves turn tail when they hear a shell racked or a double-barrelled shotgun snap shut.
 @swimbad Perhaps you need to look at the CDC statistics from gun death. A very small percentage of accidental deaths involve a gun. The vast majority of deaths involving a firearm are intentional. Not saying that's a good thing but the stats show that it really is an potential burglar who is more likely to get hurt than the home owner.
I guess he missed the common sense memo that said put things of value and perscriptions out of site (hidden) when selling ones home.
 @kramr The thing is, they were going through his stuff--they flipped a box of his collectible comic books.  At some point you need to step up and say "I'm sorry, you need to leave, NOW.  If you want to view the house, we'll set up an actual appointment."  Or--call the police if they refuse.  I would be worried about much more than the painkillers being stolen now that they've had a chance to case the house under the guise of "looking."
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 @Melissa Stidham-Clary What I don't understand, and I see it all the time when people have homes for sale online where there's clutter all over in the photos, or you can see things of value, is this.....why not put that stuff in storage? I'm always paranoid about someone taking something, so if I were having strangers come through my house for sale, I'd have everything I wouldn't want to lose secured and locked up off site
@Melissa Stidham-Clary But maybe they don't understand ownership rights. The story indicates they are hispanic so maybe they tolerate theft better than average. Maybe they just weren't thinking that somebody might need those meds. Some people just make poor choices. Yeah, right.
"He now sleeps with a loaded shotgun by his bed."
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Why would you sleep with an unloaded gun?
 @molotovmouse It's his wife  you don't want to sleep with her loaded.POW
Just another reason to have cameras recording everything.
@RalphCramden So we should ask mitt to release the tapes Or just the tax returns???
 @cptmac11 Â
Do you have OBS or TBI? If that's the case then I understand your comments.Â
 @RalphCramden Sure thing, big brother. I guess I can install one looking into your house if I found you suspicious.Â
 @on shing daoÂ
When you are on or near my property I am big brother and will be watching every thing you do.
 @RalphCramden It's ok to be protective of your space but what if it infringes on people's privacy on their own property.
@RalphCramden too bad illegal aliens (highly probable) do not have license plates on their heads for the cameras.
 @Taxedstwrker  @RalphCramden Too bad your face is so ugly it would break the lens of cameras.
 @RalphCramden I was talking to the other guy lol.
 @on shing daoÂ
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It is true. I am not a very good looking guy. Breaking the lens is a very real possibility.
 @RalphCramden So True, Ralph!