Solicitors Are A Comin’

Warmer weather brings a lot of things, including those solicitors that come knocking on your door, trying to sell you anything and everything. Here are some things to know about door to door soliciting in the valley!

Every year about this time, police officers start getting calls about suspicious and/or aggressive door-to-door solicitors. In some cases, they pose as solicitors or delivery people, knocking or ringing your door bell to see if anyone is home. If no one answers, they move to the back of the home, out of sight from the street, and try to find an unlocked door or window to get into your home.

If you DO answer the door, they pose as a legitimate company or act as if they have the wrong address. Not all door to door salespeople are bad, but you have the right to ask to see their solicitor's license. If they're not transparent about who they represent and what they are selling, you need to be cautious.

The Boise PD has put together a list of best practices when dealing with solicitors:

Crime Prevention Tips:

• Do not allow or invite solicitors into your home.  They can conduct business on your doorstep -- they do not need to assess your belongings or use the bathroom where most prescription meds are kept.
• Ask to see a City-issued license to sell – it must be on their person and in plain view.  They must be honest about who they are and what they are trying to sell.
• Ask for written information about the company.  Let them know that you will be doing research on that company before purchasing any of their products.
• Be cautious about giving out any personal or financial information without being certain of the product and the seller’s intentions.
• Report aggressive or suspicious solicitors to law enforcement immediately by calling Police Dispatch at 911.  Provide a description of the solicitor and what direction they were headed.
• Alert other neighbors in the immediate area.  If you have a Neighborhood Watch, immediately contact your NW Chairperson who can notify the other residents of this activity.
• To establish a Neighborhood Watch in your area, contact cdemirelli@cityofboise.org.
• Consider posting a “No Solicitor” sign on private property.  “No Solicitors” means No Solicitors!

During the Daytime:

• Keep exterior doors and windows locked, including both bay and side garage doors.  Don’t forget to secure your pet door!
• Turn off outside lights (not motion sensors).
• Make the home look occupied by picking up your newspaper and removing flyers from your front door; consider leaving a radio on while gone.
• Keep landscape trimmed to prevent hiding places.
• Don’t leave spare house keys under a flower pot or doormat – give a spare to a trusted neighbor or friend.

Bottom line - trust your gut. If you get a bad feeling, don't ignore it. If a solicitor knocks on your door, ask to see their license. If they do not have one, have them leave your property and call Non-Emergency Dispatch at 377-6790 immediately. Provide a description of the solicitor, direction of travel, and if possible, vehicle description with license plate number so an officer can respond and conduct an investigation. If you feel any licensed solicitor has been rude or aggressive, get their name, their solicitor license number and call the Boise City Clerk's Office at 208-384-3710.

Source: Boise PD
Read more HERE