February 21, 2003
Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

HALIFAX PLANTATION REALTOR TIED UP, ROBBED WHILE SHOWING HOME 

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation Friday morning after a Realtor reported being robbed, tied up and forced into a closet while showing a home to a customer in Halifax Plantation north of Ormond Beach. The Realtor, a 52-year-old woman who works for Plantation Realty Services, wasn’t injured. 

The incident, which is being treated as a false imprisonment and strong-arm robbery, was reported to the Sheriff’s Office at about 8:20 a.m. Friday morning after the victim managed to free herself and go to a neighbor’s house for help. The victim said she met the client Friday morning at 3529 Kilgallen Court, a fully-furnished model home up for sale. Halifax Plantation is in the extreme northeast section of Volusia County, not far from the border with Flagler County. The victim said she arrived first, unlocked the home and began showing it to the client. Once they got to the master bedroom, the client told the woman it was a robbery and ordered her to the ground. The suspect bound the woman’s hands and feet and put her in a walk-in closet while he grabbed the victim’s car keys and purse. The victim told deputies that she heard the suspect talking on a cellular telephone or walkie-talkie, leading her to believe a second person may have been involved. The suspect didn’t use a weapon during the robbery. 

The victim said she wasn’t carrying any cash, but that the suspect forced her to hand over her wedding ring and a bracelet and necklace. She said her car keys, a cellular telephone and a pair of glasses also were missing from her purse, which was recovered inside the home. Nothing from the model home was reported missing. The suspect was described as an approximately 6' tall white man with a large build. He was wearing black jeans and was carrying a black briefcase. 

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact Sheriff’s Investigator Anthony Shank at (386)-676-4182 or Crime Stoppers of Volusia & Flagler Counties toll-free at 1-888-277-TIPS. Callers to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.