ROCKVILLE, Md. (WUSA) -- According to MRIS, attacks against real estate agents have been the worst in 25 years. Scott Saghirian said he has been in scary situations twice while on the job as a realtor.
"We noticed a cell phone on the counter and it turned out there was a squatter living there that had jumped into the kitchen cabinet," he said.
Another incident involved a prospective home-buyer.
"He showed up drunk with another friend, and I got very nervous," he said.
Saghirian said when they tried to get him in the basement, he knew something was wrong and he left the house.
"I think they were going to lure me into the basement, overtake me and then rob me," he said.
According to MRIS, 30 percent of the attacks against agents happen to men.
"Just shows you that crime isn't gender specific, it's opportunity specific," said John Heithaus, MRIS.
Heithaus said in this economy many houses are vacant, and people are desperate.
Just last month, a realtor in Austin, Texas, showed up to a condo to show a unit.
"When they walked in they found an inflatable mattress and the police believe it was somebody staging an aggravated sexual assault," said Cord Shiflet, Moreland Properties.
In our area, real estate agent Robin Harrington has shared her close call with others. Now she teaches her colleagues how to fight back.
She even arms herself with pepper spray and a stun gun.
Saghirian relies on his phone and program called Moby.
"I click this [side button] three times and it sends out an alert," he said.
Moby is a tracking and alert system made for real estate agents. It's features include a check-in tool and it can send out GPS coordinates in an emergency.