Posted on 08/03/2005 4:03:34 AM PDT by nyconse
Please excuse this vanity, but I don't know what to do. Yesterday, a foreign man came into our neighborhood selling children's books. He had a map of houses that had most of the children's names on the house they lived in. He kept asking the kids about where other children lived (parents were at the bus stop so was this guy and followed them home supposedly in order to sell books). The man would not say what company he was with or produce identification.He said he was from Latvia, but didn't sound Russian. How can you sell books if you won't say what company you are with? One Mother freaked out and called the police. The police asked for ID which the guy did not produce and then let him leave. I am upset and think they should have taken him in for questioning. He could be a child molester, a terrorist or really selling children's books (Although I don't see how). My neighbor thinks we should call the FBI or Homeland Security because captured terrorists had pictures of American schools and this could be some kind of terrorist plot. I have know idea what I should do- nor does my husband-advice please.
He was on a bicycle-no car. The sheriff said he told him to leave because we live in a 'do not solicit neighborhood'. The guy produced no ID, but the police said 'this is America, we don't ask for people's papers yet'; he wasn't driving so he didn't have to produce a license. I am extremely surprised at sheriffs attitude.
"He had a map of houses that had most of the children's names on the house they lived in."
Shoot him
Your first instinct was correct...call the cops immediately.
great idea...
This is what my neighbor said...our school is a very large elementary school in a small town in Georgia.
You might also follow up with the Police Department. If you're in a smaller community, you could call and ask to speak to the police chief (you'll probably get a supervisor) and tell him/her what happened, that you were unsatisfied with the response from the officers who apparently didn't get the guy ID'd. Ask him if your city has a peddler's license, and did this guy have one. Follow up on that end, too, to force a better response next time.
Bingo!!!!
It he's up to no good, having his picture taken will make him flee faster than you can say Boo. Plus, incase he does something someplace else, you have a record of him in your neighborhood and can potentially help the police in the future identifying him.
Better safe than sorry.
Thanks, I was all set to do that, but then started feeling as if maybe I was being silly-didn't want to bother the authorities.
He was probably working for a gypsy outfit. He probably got the map from a "friendly" neighbor. If the police talked to him, he probably won't be back. I used to see these people all the time when I lived in apartments.
Call the cops, better safe than sorry. Selling books "Door to Door" is not really done very meuch anymore, is it?
What is? To sell a product but not want to disclose the company you work for? Maybe it's common if you work for the Russian mafia.
I think the fact that he will not say who he is working for is VERY suspicious, and the guy should definitely be reported.
I would go further than reporting him. If possible, I would also grab a camera and take his picture, if he's still around -- just to discourage him from hanging around my neighborhood, but also as a record.
my husband said that too...I think he was kidding.
Having said that, as one who put himself through college selling Grollier encyclopedias and other fine Grollier products door to door, I can tell you that the book companies would have no problem putting a foreigner out in the field. The sales people usually work strictly on commission, so the companies play the numbers game and put as many warm bodies in the field as possible, betting that if you throw enough mud against the wall some of it will stick. And depending on the local statutes, he may not have been required to have a soliciting license or company ID. Personally, I and all the Grollier people I worked with amde sure we had company ID as well as our drivers license or other state ID with us at all times when in the field.
It is suspicious that he would not divulge the name of the company he was working for however, unless he was desiring to not reveal that they were working the neighborhood, the company wasn't of high repute and didn't want the word out, though he should realize that the word would certainly be out after his encounter with the police and people in the neighborhood.
The fact is, as with many things, there are some fine and reputable book companies who still solicit through direct marketing and there are some that are shady.
Again, I would press the locals to investigate further and if no satisfaction is delivered there, then move on to a higher authority.
I wish I'd thought of that yesterday!
SHOOT FIRST THEN ASK FOR ID...THEN SHOOT SOME MORE.
This is probably accurate. There are Irish Travelers living across the state line in SC from Augusta and they prey on Georgia folks all the time. Though I've never heard of selling books - they tend to do fix-it-up for elderly scams.
I'm in Georgia. What is freaking us out is that it was reported in the local rag that captured terrorists had pictures of some of our schools.
I wasn't aware of this. How do you suppose he got all those children's names-accept for the people who moved in down the street two weeks ago. All the names were correct?
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