Madison Park

I was just wondering if anyone knew if as a neighborhood we could stop door to door solicitation?  Neighborhood children selling girl scout cookies I am fine with, but the past 2 days, during business hours, I have had men come to my door asking me to buy magazines.  I work from home on occassion, and these visitors were knocking on doors on my street when most of us are working.  I feel strange when approached by these young men.  Not only is it scary for me, it is dangerous for these companies to send kids door to door in any neighborhood, anywhere...

 Maybe I am being too nervous or cautious, but it doesn't sit well with me.

 Don't open your doors to strangers. Be wary of solicitors and salespeople. If a stranger asks to use your telephone, tell them to stay outside while you make the call for them. Never let a stranger inside your house.   Charlotte-Mecklenburg police offer these tips on preventing home burglaries.

Burglars usually operate in daytime hours, when nobody is home.

They often ring a doorbell, or knock on the front door to see if anyone is home. Police say it's a good idea to let people know that someone is home -- but not necessarily by answering the door.  Sometimes a second person goes to the rear or side door while one knocks on the front door.

"You can yell through the door, asking the people what they want, That will let them know someone is home."

 Over the years there have been all kinds of stories on these door to door magazine solicitors from both our local and national media.  Some stories even about the poor treatment of the door to door workers.  Most of the time they claim to be students, and many times this has turned out to not be the case.   Often they travel state to state and are crammed in motels, and are not local students from the area.

We would not encourage opening your doors to the people or buying from them. 

Individuals can of course post no solicitation signs....but it is best to let someone know you are inside, and will not be opening your door.   Just in case they are looking for a home to break into. 

If someone refuses to leave your door after ringing you bell or runs off when you do open your door...get their tag numbers and descriptions and call 911.

I am going to alert our two community officers that these people are working in the neighborhood again.  If they have any further suggestions or comments I will post them on this discussion page.

If we were a gated community, condo, or apt complex we could probably ban all door to door, but this type of neighborhood it would not be allowed.

Again, if anyone has any problem with these people, or any other people coming to your door.....call 911.  

Police have recently reported that these tips of suspicious people to 911 have lead to some arrest.

http://www.travelingsalescrews.info 

They come thru about once a year. Always try to mention that your neighbors said you would be interested. I shoo them off as quickly as possible.