Posted by Pro Mobile Notary on 3/4/13 1:30pm
Msg #459129

Knowing area danger zones can be important.

We received an order Friday afternoon for a weekend signing in San Francisco, CA. The signing location was in one of the most dangerous parts of that city. A friend of mine used to own a luxury hilltop townhouse above the intersection were the signing was to take place.

My friend sold his townhouse after receiving two bullet holes in his car on the way home from work one day. Knowing how dangerous this neighborhood was (and is) I did not feel comfortable sending anyone (male or female) into that neighborhood to do a signing of some seller’s papers. I decided to do it myself because this was for a good client of ours.

My wife insisted on coming with me because she wanted to go shopping in the city before heading back home to Marin County. I warned her of the potential dangers, but she insisted on coming along and sitting in the locked car waiting for me to complete the signing.

While I was in the house doing the signing she was sitting in the car, a can of mace in one hand and her phone in the other. When I got back to the car she said that was the longest 20 minutes of her life. Two prostitutes got into a fight right in front of the car and she was terrified. She said many people walked by the car just talking to themselves.

Maybe I was crazy for going into the highest crime area of SF without a gun or police escort, but at least I know not to send anyone else into that area. I did it as a favor for that good escrow officer client of ours.

Sooner or later you get to see it all in this business.

Reply by sanjqnvly on 3/4/13 1:44pm
Msg #459131

I agree, when I think I have seen and heard it all, something comes along to prove me wrong!

Reply by Notarysigner on 3/4/13 1:57pm
Msg #459134

I Use CrimeMapping.com it is wonderful. You can even have

criminal activity in an area you designate to be emailed to you based on criteria you choose (dates, current, type of crime, etc) . It is nationwide almost.

Reply by SheilaSJCA on 3/4/13 2:39pm
Msg #459144

Re: I Use CrimeMapping.com it is wonderful. You can even have

dissapointed to find that one of California's biggest city is NOT covered. San Jose.

Reply by SheilaSJCA on 3/4/13 2:40pm
Msg #459145

disregard my post above. If search by address, works OK n/m

Reply by Notarysigner on 3/4/13 2:49pm
Msg #459149

try this http://myneighborhoodupdate.net/?center=37.32,% n/m

Reply by Pro Mobile Notary on 3/4/13 2:49pm
Msg #459150

Re: I Use CrimeMapping.com it is wonderful. You can even have

Thanks for sharing that James.

Have fun driving to San Ramon today.

HB

Reply by Stephanie Santiago on 3/4/13 2:47pm
Msg #459148

Had you not been available, how would you have handled

the request?

Thank you.

Reply by Pro Mobile Notary on 3/4/13 2:53pm
Msg #459152

Re: Had you not been available, how would you have handled

Good question Stephanie.

I would have had only two possible choices:

- Ask the seller to meet a signing agent in a different (and safer) location, or

- Turn back the assignment to the escrow officer.

Reply by jba/fl on 3/4/13 3:05pm
Msg #459156

I kept thinking, while reading along, that this would be a great way to get rid of an unwanted spouse, and wondering. Really wondering.

Reply by Les_CO on 3/4/13 3:47pm
Msg #459165

Maybe we should just ban all guns in CA, then as in Chicago, all the criminals and ‘gangbangers’ will turn in all their guns, knives, baseball bats, and tire-irons, and only hurt others with their fists, and feet. Then all (very fit and large) SA’s will be safe. Why doesn’t the President just BAN all gangs, guns, crack/drug dealers, and other undesirables by ‘Presidential Order”? Then we all would all be safe. Or maybe we could ask the State to provide us “public officials’ with ARMED BODYGARDS, like they have?

Reply by 101livescan on 3/4/13 4:46pm
Msg #459170

But, Les, what about all the sex offenders who often use no weapons except brutal force, what is to be done with them? No safe harbor for any woman, or man, for that matter (remember Deliverance!).

Reply by JanetK_CA on 3/5/13 1:11am
Msg #459242

C'mon, Les. You know this belongs in JP, not here... n/m

Reply by Stamper_WI on 3/4/13 6:42pm
Msg #459190

Gee

Here we have to worry about the loner living in the woods. Or going in a ditch in a no cell zone.
I went to a loner house and thought nothing of his bloody kitchen because he was butchering a deer. A year later I went back to refinance another of his properties and something he said caused me to look him up in the court system. At my first visit, he had been out of prison a couple of months for rape.