Need those gutters cleaned? Those trees trimmed? Beware

[AquaMan]

I had furniture stolen off my porch last night. Porch light was on, motion detector on and cars in driveway. Then they broke into my locked garage by ripping off the hasp, rummaged around in the dark but found nothing cause my garage is packed full of projects waiting for me but the electricity is turned off. Then they entered the shed next to the garage and stole a drill press. Not sure what else but not much. The guy should have picked someone with a good job.

Checked with one of the neighbors whose home is for sale and it seems we each had a visitor to our front porches on Monday afternoon looking for work cleaning gutters or trimming trees, neither of which was necessary. Of course we were being scammed. I noticed the guy was making notes after I closed the door. Apparently they came back last night and filled the list.

My neighbor tells me they are working the area between Riverside and Peoria from 15th to Brookside. One group canvasses and makes notes about security alarms, dogs, easy stuff to grab and the garage setup. The next night another group comes with trucks and breezes through quickly filling it up. They don't stay long. Hard to defend against but thought I would make you aware.

Not every down and out door knocker is a crook but these guys are. One 40 yr old, tall, moustached, sandy haired and rough looking. The other dark hair and short.

[Conan71]

I had furniture stolen off my porch last night. Porch light was on, motion detector on and cars in driveway. Then they broke into my locked garage by ripping off the hasp, rummaged around in the dark but found nothing cause my garage is packed full of projects waiting for me but the electricity is turned off. Then they entered the shed next to the garage and stole a drill press. Not sure what else but not much. The guy should have picked someone with a good job.

Checked with one of the neighbors whose home is for sale and it seems we each had a visitor to our front porches on Monday afternoon looking for work cleaning gutters or trimming trees, neither of which was necessary. Of course we were being scammed. I noticed the guy was making notes after I closed the door. Apparently they came back last night and filled the list.

My neighbor tells me they are working the area between Riverside and Peoria from 15th to Brookside. One group canvasses and makes notes about security alarms, dogs, easy stuff to grab and the garage setup. The next night another group comes with trucks and breezes through quickly filling it up. They don't stay long. Hard to defend against but thought I would make you aware.

Not every down and out door knocker is a crook but these guys are. One 40 yr old, tall, moustached, sandy haired and rough looking. The other dark hair and short.

Anyone see any vehicles associated with these scumbags?

[pmcalk]

Aquaman--

I bet he was the same guy that hit our street, offering to clean gutters.  Here is some info. on him:

http://docapp065p.doc.state.ok.us/servlet/page?_pageid=394&_dad=portal30&_schema=PORTAL30&doc_num=261204&offender_book_id=151729

My neighbor contacted the police about him & alerted the school.  Don't know what his sex offense was, but my guess is that he isn't suppose to be around here.  He was on my porch--made me very nervous.  I not usually bothered much by people begging for work, but this guy was different.  Be sure to share his pictures with neighbors, though I suspect he probably won't be back.

[AquaMan]

Good idea PM. I try not to judge people looking for odd jobs. We are that kind of neighborhood with lots of trees, and potential for small jobs. I do my own work though and don't mind telling them so. This could be the guy but his hair was long and I think he had a moustache. Anyway, I'm sure they've moved on.

Conan, we get lots of cars being so close to a grade school, the path, apartments and light commercial. They had to have had a truck or a car with a trailor. Of some note is that there have been roofing jobs going on around this area all summer. They often hire temporary guys with trucks and their own tools.

[SXSW]

There is a group trying to get the city council to require all solicitors to have a permit.  You would have to show your permit at each house, and show it if asked (like if you're just walking in a neighborhood looking suspicious).  If you see one in your neighborhood call the police.  They know many of these "solicitors" are burglars.

[Red Arrow]

There is a group trying to get the city council to require all solicitors to have a permit. 

Let's see ... permit ... isn't that an Identification Card that you buy from the government?  I wonder what the requirements will be to get a "permit".

[Conan71]

Let's see ... permit ... isn't that an Identification Card that you buy from the government?  I wonder what the requirements will be to get a "permit".

That's not fair!  That means they would have to be inconvenienced to go to the City Hall and get their permit.  And then to be required to show said permit on demand to law enforcement?!?  Oh the humanity!

[Townsend]

Ohhhh, so you guys mean that if that 84 year old woman living in that old apartment building doesn't get an ID to vote she will rob you?

[Red Arrow]

Ohhhh, so you guys mean that if that 84 year old woman living in that old apartment building doesn't get an ID to vote she will rob you?

You haven't seen the occasional TV spots where some little old lady beats the crap out of a robber, purse snatcher.......?   They can be one tough customer.

[Red Arrow]

That's not fair!  That means they would have to be inconvenienced to go to the City Hall and get their permit.  And then to be required to show said permit on demand to law enforcement?!?  Oh the humanity!

Where's the ACLU when you need them?

[cynical]

Red, the difference is that no one has the constitutional right to do door-to-door cold calling.

Where's the ACLU when you need them?

[Red Arrow]

That's not fair!  That means they would have to be inconvenienced to go to the City Hall and get their permit.  And then to be required to show said permit on demand to law enforcement?!?  Oh the humanity!

Some groups would be exempted from showing law enforcement their permit as it would be considered profiling.

[custosnox]

So the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses would be required to get one? That could become interesting.  What about the girl scouts and other kids raising funds for whatever?

[Patrick]

I made a sign that says 'No Solicitors,' laminated it and posted it on the front door.  In my neighborhood where we get our unfair share of religious folks, magazine subscription folks, lawn mowing inquiries, etc. it has really helped.  I would say 99% can see it when walking up to the house and turn away.

I need to redo the sign to make it clear that girl scouts / boy scouts / school solicitation stuff is okay but I cannot think of a way to make the sign sound non-creepy.  I.e. "No solicitors, but little kids okay".

I remember last year on Halloween we couldn't figure out why kids weren't ringing our doorbell.  Finally we heard some kids approach and someone's mom yelled "ring the doorbell!".  The kid replied "... but it says no solicitors".  I took the sign down right after that.

[Townsend]

I need to redo the sign to make it clear that girl scouts / boy scouts / school solicitation stuff is okay but I cannot think of a way to make the sign sound non-creepy.  I.e. "No solicitors, but little kids okay".

Hang it on your van.