News from the North Precinct Police - May 2007
Increase in Robberies of Occupied Homes - Lock Your Doors When Home or In Your Yard!
There is an increased amount of crime in terms of people invading homes while the owner is there. A recent example occurred in the north end. A wife was working on the computer in one room. Her husband was in the yard mowing. While he was outside, and she was inside, someone entered the home. They went to his bedroom, stole $300 cash and took all of his credit cards and ID.
The police are indicating, it is becoming far too common that theft is taking place while the owner is at home. The culprits are bolder than ever before. A whole new way of thinking regarding locking doors has to emerge. It is important to lock your doors, even while you are in the yard.
Dood-to-Door Sales Alert!
Please be very careful of people going door to door. Following is a recent article by Ed McKenna, the City Attorney who represents the North precinct, spells out the pitfalls:
What You Need To Know About Residential Sellers
We’re all familiar with residential sellers, also known as solicitors, traveling salespersons, or door-to-door salespersons. What you don’t know about them however, might just hurt you.
I recently received a phone call from a family member of an elderly resident. The family member explained that the prior week, a solicitor knocked on the door, and proceeded to talk the elderly resident into an expensive burglar alarm system. The elderly resident signed a contract that not only provided for the installation of the alarm, but also included an expensive monitoring fee, far in excess of that normally charged by reputable alarm companies. What’s more, the contract included expensive penalties for early termination and even costs for the removal of the alarm at the end of the contract.
What’s that have to do with public safety?
Most of us feel comfortable at our homes. Our homes are our castles, and many of us don’t mind opening the castle gate to perfect strangers, whether they sell scout cookies, magazines, newspapers, frozen steaks, brushes, vacuum cleaners, or alarm systems. Many are legitimate.
Most are not. Some are simply dangerous. A quick Google search for ‘traveling sales crews” gives reason to pause before opening your door to strangers.
Web titles such as “Magazine solicitor nabbed in sex case”, “Magazine salesman assaults resident who refused purchase”, “ Salesmen suspected of burglary, forgery”, “Magazine salesman convicted of assault”, “Three arrested for deceptive sales”, “Magazine salesman pleads guilty to rape”. The list is endless. Like other major cities, Seattle also has its share of crime attributable to residential sellers. Just recently, an elderly Wedegwood resident was assaulted and home burglarized by two persons who claimed to be residential sellers.
Vanloads of sales persons travel the circuit through the United States.
Each year, I’m told stories of crime attributable to some of these persons.
Even when arrested, they simply bail out and skip town, never to be seen again to answer for their charges. Misdemeanor warrants are not extraditable, so even if arrested in another state, they won’t be returned to Seattle
How do you know whether the solicitor at your door has a criminal history or is a wanted criminal suspect?
Don’t open your door to strangers is the obvious answer. Install a “peephole” so you can see who is at the door. If you don’t recognize the person, either inquire of their business through the door or simply don’t respond if you don’t recognize the person.
Most of us have signed up for the national “do not call list” so why should you have to listen to a sales pitch in your door. Fortunately, Seattle has a law designed to stop residential sellers before they pester you. Seattle Municipal Code section 6.260.050 provides that it is illegal to gain admittance to property for the purpose of selling at any residence bearing a sign stating “No Solicitors”, “No Peddlers”, or words of similar effect. If a solicitor violates the sign and continues on your property, itcould constitute the crime of criminal trespass. Likewise, if you simply tell a solicitor to leave and they continue to try to sell, they are trespassing. Call 911 to report the incident. Seattle has many other laws regulating residential sellers. For instance, sellers cannot sell after 9:00 p.m., they may not make deceptive or untrue statements, and they must, with limited exceptions [1], possess a residential sellers license, or a rresidential sellers agent card issued by the City. Many solicitors carry flashy cards around their necks in an attempt to look official, but very few are legitimate. In fact, a recent check revealed only four businesses had licensed residential sellers in Seattle.
Let’s say that you’re caught in a moment of weakness and decide to purchase some snake oil from a door-to-door salesperson. After reflecting on the fast-talking salesperson and your lighter wallet, you decide you were taken advantage of. What can you do? Fortunately, there is some assistance. Under most circumstances, the law provides a 3-day cancellation period. You must cancel in writing no later than midnight of the third day after the sale, other wise you’re on the hook and obligated to complete the transaction and pay the contracted amount. Of course, if you already ate those scout cookies, this provision doesn’t apply.
For more information, contact the City’s Revenue and Consumer Affairs department at 684-8484.
[1] Exceptions include newspaper (not magazine) sellers, perishable food sellers (candy), utility agents, and home sales parties.
Aundie Collison
Meadowbrook Representative to the North Precinct Advisory Council