A new kind of solicitor came to my house last night

[connorlevismom]

I e-mailed the cops and just let them know what happened and what was said. I told them I just wanted to make them aware of the situation.

Kristine

 

[Straitlover]

It wasn't Achmed the Dead Terrorist in disguise, was it???

Silence!! I Kill you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uwOL4rB-go

I'm just kidding! Sorry if it hurts anyone's feelings.

 

[blissventure]

I e-mailed the cops and just let them know what happened and what was said. I told them I just wanted to make them aware of the situation.

Kristine

Probably a good idea. And may I add something else--think twice about inviting strangers into your home. Maybe they are selling something, maybe they are having a quick look to see if you have anything worth stealing later, who knows?

And FYI, if the doorbell rings, and it's a kid, we answer it. If it's a strange adult, we don't. This system has worked well for us for years.

 

[AndreaDM]

We have been bombarded with guys trying to sell security systems (APX I think) in our neighborhood. They use scare tactics, trying to tell us about all the break-ins down the street, etc. I told him NO firmly, but what do you know? He came back a few days later, at 9:30 PM on a Saturday night!! We had friends over and were all in the back hanging out when he showed up. WTH?!?! DH fired off an email to that company the next day! Part of me wondered if he was casing the neighborhood to see who had security systems and who didn't.

 

[connorlevismom]

Probably a good idea. And may I add something else--think twice about inviting strangers into your home. Maybe they are selling something, maybe they are having a quick look to see if you have anything worth stealing later, who knows?

And FYI, if the doorbell rings, and it's a kid, we answer it. If it's a strange adult, we don't. This system has worked well for us for years.

We would never let someone in the house we did not know. But it does not stop them from asking!

Kristine

 

[blissventure]

We would never let someone in the house we did not know. But it does not stop them from asking!

Kristine

Boy is that the truth!!!

 

[Ephany]

A young man with a russian? accent stopped by yesterday selling educational books and materials. He was very nice, but we're in the process of packing and don't need anymore stuff! I have a vague recollection of a scheme that used young foreign students for door-to-door selling products, and if he was casing our house, he must have been very disappointed. Everything's packed up except for one small old tv, a futon, and a folding card table.

 

[OK!]

We have been bombarded with guys trying to sell security systems (APX I think) in our neighborhood. They use scare tactics, trying to tell us about all the break-ins down the street, etc. I told him NO firmly, but what do you know? He came back a few days later, at 9:30 PM on a Saturday night!! We had friends over and were all in the back hanging out when he showed up. WTH?!?! DH fired off an email to that company the next day! Part of me wondered if he was casing the neighborhood to see who had security systems and who didn't.

They just had a feature on our local news this morning about that company! They actually do install security systems, apparently, and claim that you can cancel service if you don't like it, but then they charge an arm and a leg to do so. Apparently, hundreds of complaints have been filed with the BBB about them.

 

[sbell111]

I think that many people in this thread are overreacting. In my opinion, the OP reads like a young lady was trying to sell paintings. She was virtually untrained in the art of door-to-door sales and did a horrible job of it. Hopefully, she'll get better and be able to sell some of her paintings.

 

[browneyes106]

That situation is pretty creepy. I would have called the cops. Last year there was a scam going on in few small New Mexico towns were these three men used a mentally challenged young man to go door to door selling jewlery and other small gift items. After the mentally challenged man would leave a home the other men would ask what kind of stuff the homeowners had and if they were any kids in the home. Later on the other three men would go in and rob homes at night or when no one was home. After a few months the group was caught. The mentally challenged man was placed in a strict group home. He had been living with his elderely father and one of the men in the group was a neighbor who simply took advantage of his mental state and poor judgement.

 

[connorlevismom]

That situation is pretty creepy. I would have called the cops. Last year there was a scam going on in few small New Mexico towns were these three men used a mentally challenged young man to go door to door selling jewlery and other small gift items. After the mentally challenged man would leave a home the other men would ask what kind of stuff the homeowners had and if they were any kids in the home. Later on the other three men would go in and rob homes at night or when no one was home. After a few months the group was caught. The mentally challenged man was placed in a strict group home. He had been living with his elderely father and one of the men in the group was a neighbor who simply took advantage of his mental state and poor judgement.

Oh that is just horrible! I just do not understand some people. What is your thought process in doing something like that? Just horrible.

Kristine

 

[clh2]

I actually called the policeman, one winter night about 9:30 pm, on the boy scouts who were trying to sell wreaths in my subdivision.

First off...they were older (i.e. high school age), second, they weren't with an adult...third - they weren't wearing anything that tied them to scouting like a uniform, and third...in our neck of the woods - wreaths are ordered months in advance...they are not a "door-to-door with a wreath in their hands type of sale. At the time - it just seemed like they could have taken a wreath off the someone wle's house and were trying to pick up a few bucks. And... I was just plane ticked off because my DD who was about 3 at the time had just fallen asleep.

We've been in our house about 15 years now...I contact the boy scouts I like to buy stuff from...I know lots of girl scout cookie moms, and girl scout leaders for my cookies...everyone else - you might want to pass my house up!

 

[Stacerita]

My dogs keep solicitors away.

 

[surfergirl602]

A young man with a russian? accent stopped by yesterday selling educational books and materials. He was very nice, but we're in the process of packing and don't need anymore stuff! I have a vague recollection of a scheme that used young foreign students for door-to-door selling products, and if he was casing our house, he must have been very disappointed. Everything's packed up except for one small old tv, a futon, and a folding card table.

We have had people come by selling those things as well. One guy actually asked me for a snack!!!

We have since put up a no soliciting sign stating they will be reported for trespassing, etc. We did get several people a week! but haven't for the past few days since I put the sign up. I do not want people looking in my house. If, by chance, I get caught off guard by one, I go outside and shut the door behind me so they can't look in my house.

I would have called the cops to report that lady as an FYI.

 

[browneyes106]

Oh that is just horrible! I just do not understand some people. What is your thought process in doing something like that? Just horrible.

Kristine

It was really horrible. The case was in the news a lot. One of the cops who investigated told the newspaper that the ringleader who was the mentally challenged man's neighbor didn't seem to have remorse for taking advantage of him. The mentally challenged man was almost charged in the case for various counts. But the others in the group told the police he was never involved the break ins.

 

[browneyes106]

I actually called the policeman, one winter night about 9:30 pm, on the boy scouts who were trying to sell wreaths in my subdivision.

First off...they were older (i.e. high school age), second, they weren't with an adult...third - they weren't wearing anything that tied them to scouting like a uniform, and third...in our neck of the woods - wreaths are ordered months in advance...they are not a "door-to-door with a wreath in their hands type of sale. At the time - it just seemed like they could have taken a wreath off the someone wle's house and were trying to pick up a few bucks. And... I was just plane ticked off because my DD who was about 3 at the time had just fallen asleep.

We've been in our house about 15 years now...I contact the boy scouts I like to buy stuff from...I know lots of girl scout cookie moms, and girl scout leaders for my cookies...everyone else - you might want to pass my house up!

I think I would have questioned an incident like that especially if they weren't wearing uniforms or had anything tying them to the Boy Scouts.

 

[Sir Robin Hood]

Her: I should kill you. Ha Ha.

Can you imagine if the Jehovah's Witnesses started adopting this sales tactic?

 

[kacaju]

Please be careful if you pretend you are not home if your doorbell rings (or someone knocks on your door) My dd15 has a boy in her grade who was home sick from school one day. He heard a frantic knock at the front door and did not answer it. The next thing he knew the front door was kicked in. He ran in the bathroom called 911 and the man followed him in and grabbed the phone and took off!!

My neighbor who is a police officer said that happens often. if you answer the crook may just ask for directions or some other *silly* thing. If you don't answer they thing your house is empty and if the motive is to rob you they will break in.

I always answer my door, with my two big dogs right at my side!!

 

[Mermaid02]

When she laughed after saying it, it would have clued me into the fact that it was a joke that fell flat.

Just because she was apparently from the middle east, does not mean that she is going to harm anyone.

"I should kill you- hahahaha" That's one sick and twisted sense of humor. The middle east thing has NOTHING to do with it as far as I'm concerned.

I think that many people in this thread are overreacting. In my opinion, the OP reads like a young lady was trying to sell paintings. She was virtually untrained in the art of door-to-door sales and did a horrible job of it. Hopefully, she'll get better and be able to sell some of her paintings.

Nobody has said they were going to grab their Smith and Wesson- just that they would inform the authorities. There's no harm in doing so, and it just might save someone from being robbed- or worse.

 

[lil mermaid]

Oh that is just horrible! I just do not understand some people. What is your thought process in doing something like that? Just horrible.

Kristine

It is, and it is also a good reason not to open your door to solicitors.