North Texas real estate agents are on alert after hearing a man accused of stealing jewelry during open houses is free on bond.
Steven Breed, 55, posted bond last month. He was allegedly spotted at an open house in Preston Hollow in Dallas several days ago. The agency said nothing was stolen.
Breed's attorney said the former schoolteacher is cleaning up his life and believes this is a case of mistaken identity.
Several North Texas police departments said Breed has stolen jewelry during open houses. He has been arrested multiple times in Frisco, McKinney and Dallas on jewelry theft charges.
Breed was last arrested on Feb. 6 and posted bond on Feb. 16.
Lori Rea said she showed Breed several listings and that she never thought anything was wrong.
"He said he was paying for a house, and his house was on the market in Houston," she said.
She said he even shared details about his life and seemed interested in buying a home. She said she was shocked when she got an alert about Breed from the Collin County Association of Realtors and her office.
"I was like, 'Oh my God, this was the guy I was showing houses to," Rea said. "I didn't know what to do."
Highland Park police have received calls about Breed. They said agents can call 911 if they see him and don't want him at an open house. Officers would then come out and serve a criminal trespassing warning.
Rea said that now that she knows Breed is free on bond and has been seen at open houses, she may put up posters at her future open houses.
