Realtors can take self-defense class
Mortgage loan officer Jan Leasure and real estate attorney Shameen Thakrar are co-sponsoring an event Thursday, Feb. 7, geared to help Realtors and real estate agents to thwart and defend themselves against potential attackers.
Law enforcement officers have, in recent years, responded to a rising number of such attacks, some of which resulted in death.
"Perpetrators are attacking both men and women," said Leasure, division president of Diamond Residential Mortgage in Libertyville. "The biggest shock to me was the premeditated murder of (real estate) agent Beverly Carter in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 2014. I wanted to do something to help our local Lake County Realtors to fight back."
Carter disappeared in September 2014 after telling her husband she was leaving to show a house to a prospective buyer. Other assaults have been reported nationwide.
In response, Leasure has teamed up with Thakrar, a Winnetka-based real estate attorney, to offer a Realtor Safety and Self-Defense Party and Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at Crossfit Freedom, 748 E. Park Ave., Libertyville.
Cost to attend is $20 each (the course is normally $45, but the cost is offset by Leasure's sponsorship). The event is geared for and open to real estate agents, Realtors and brokers only.
Thakrar is sponsoring the catered paleo luncheon portion of the event, with food by Real Clean Paleo. Retired police officer Anne Levinstein and active duty officer Kevin Raiche of Empower Self-Defense LLC will provide self-defense tips, demonstrations and instruction.
To register, find REALTOR Safety & Self-Defense Party & Luncheon on Facebook or eventbrite and click the tickets button.