Langley realtor among two dozen women targeted by sexually harassing calls, texts

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) –  When Langley realtor Kylene Shannon’s phone starting ringing last month, she was under the impression that it was a prospective client. Instead, what she heard on the other end was heavy breathing, followed by sexual pictures and text messages.

“I was definitely nervous and scared. I ran to my partner right away for some comfort and reassurance,” she tells NEWS 1130, adding she didn’t know if she should block the number or contact police. “It was very unexpected.”

Shannon is one of more than two dozen female realtors in Metro Vancouver who have been harassed with strange calls and inappropriate sexual text messages.

The man told Shannon he was helping an older woman sell her home after her husband died, but the calls didn’t go anywhere. Shannon could hear a man in the background and heavy breathing on the other end. He would explain the woman was nervous and couldn’t come to the phone.

After the third time he called and the same thing happened, Shannon says she started to get a weird feeling. So, she sent a text back, suggesting the man take some time to sort out the situation.

That’s when a series of inappropriate, sexual messages started flooding her phone.

“They were really, really inappropriate texts and images that nobody wants to see,” Shannon explains.

Safety of realtors ‘always an issue’

Chris Shields, president of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, says emails, texts, and an alert was sent out to the board’s members warning of similar situations and offering guidance.

“We’re taking it very seriously,” he says. “We are grateful that the police are taking it as seriously as we are.”

Shields says it’s a reminder to remain vigilant and that the safety of realtors is “always an issue.”

RELATED: Saanich Police chasing leads with FBI in Lindsay Buziak murder

Shannon says she has taken extra caution as a relator, making sure to pass along the information of who she is meeting to her partner and father.

“As a woman in real estate … I always struggle with just some of the things we have to experience as realtors, like popping into a brand new house that is vacant,” she says.

She felt at ease after blocking the number.

“It is concerning, especially when you don’t know what their intent was or what could happen,” Shannon explains.

She is going to the police with her experience and wants other realtors to be aware of the situation.

Vancouver Police are investigating a number of similar cases.

Saanich Police confirmed this week investigators are chasing new leads with the FBI in the 2008 unsolved murder of 24-year-old Lindsay Buziak. She was working as a realtor and showing a house when she was murdered.

-with files from Kareem Gouda