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.
I would just call the police.
Holy bleep bleep! Think about all the times you have to produce ID for anything from an unsigned cc to picking up 'script to a writing a check...we don't ask for papers yet? He's soliciting in a NO SOLICITE NEIGHBORHOOD. Uhmmm....He is breaking the law/ordinance dude! Sheesh...
If I had evidence that a terrorist act in Waco, TX resulted in the murder of about 80 people, including children and infants, do you think I should contact the FBI with this information? I also have some information that a mother nursing her baby in Ruby Ridge, ID, may have been murdered in cold blood. Is this the sort of thing the FBI would be interested in?
Call the Gestapo....
I'll bet that he's not a terrorist, and not a child molester, but possibly scoping-out the neighborhood for a burglary or two.
If this man caused you concern then you should report him to the police and the FBI. Don't worry about bothering them b/c that's what they get paid to do. They may or may not do anything with this information, but at least you have done your part. Trust your instincts. If he creeped you out then he needs to be reported. We all have to do our part to protect our children and neighborhoods.
he has maps, details, names - he does not have i.d., company information - authorities need to know about that - if the locals cant handle it, get the feds involved. simple stuff.
Take his picture. Try to find out a license plate also.
Call the police in most places it is not legal to sell with a permit from the city or county. And I would call the police because he would not show identification. A suspect if I ever saw one.
Where did he get the names? Possibly from the local school district. I know my local district is notorious for releasing information like that.
I'm with those that said gypsies or Irish travelers.
Part of their scam is to go door-to-door where they can keep the homeowner occupied while the accomplice sneaks into the house through another entrance to burgle it. Florida gets these folks alot.
Another thought I had, since I sometimes have a misplaced trust in folks like this, is that he may have been working contract work - sort of like a temp agency or day labor organization. Still, he should have had ID which means he was probably illegal.
CC&E
Relax....I live in Georgia as well....during the summer there are a variety of educational book companies that use foreign exchange students from Eastern European countries to sell their books door to door. In most cases they provide them easily obtainable lists of homes with children and their ages....
Most are incredibly friendly and outgoing with fairly good English skills. We had one from visit from the Ukraine (a girl) who my wife and I had lunch with....They typically use bikes or go on foot....
That said, vigilance is good and make no assumptions. Identify who anyone is walking through your community asking about children and get the name of the publisher and call to verify their employment...If it checks out, good...if not get the cops there immediately before he leaves the area...
NeverGore :^)
Go with your gut feeling-call the FBI.
You call the police then Homeland Security...
Palladin, San Francisco
Have gun will travel.
The government doesn't care about this kind of thing. Neighborhood watch is the answer. If you tell them he said he was Muslim they MIGHT get interested.
If you have a good local police department, the will deal with this problem. If your local police department is like mine, you are on your own.
By all means, call everyone. Then write a letter, describing what you have seen, with dates, times and places. Address it to the local Police Chief, but send copies to your Mayor, your Town Council and your county, state and federal authorities. Don't sound hysterical in the letter, but sound concerned.
Make sure you list each copy sent on the cc: block on the Chief's letter. That'll stir the pot...
Only if you count the Latvians that would deny they know any Russian.
Shoot Shovel Shut up.
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