by Carolyn Seitz
Whether to question or not question, or to be cautious or not be cautious about door-to-door solicitors is a tough decision to make for some of you. There are diverse opinions about whether it is unfair to categorize all solicitors as "bad" and call to report them, or to not call the Sheriff's Station and risk finding out the hard way that they may well have been up to no good and now you or one of your neighbors is a victim of crime.
The difficulty with door-to-door solicitors in Altadena is that many of them have been seen knocking on doors and when no one answers, they make their way to the side yard or rear yard and break in.
We've caught several in the act thanks to the quick observation by neighbors and the speedy arrival by deputies.
Those who are legitimately in the area selling or otherwise distributing information are questioned by the deputies and if there is no issue, they're sent on their way.
People have been sitting in the back of their houses in the afternoon or early evening only to be accosted by someone in their backyard with some story about looking for a glass of water. To get to that backyard, in more than one instance, they had to navigate around 2 vehicles parked in the driveway, through a gate with the latch on the inside, then walk up some steps to get over a retaining wall to gain entry.
Do you think they were really looking for a glass of water?
From the Sheriff's Department's perspective, better safe than sorry.
Please continue to be vigilant. Report suspicious behavior.
If you or your children are at home and someone knocks, please make your presence known. You are not obligated to open the door. We've had problems when occupants of homes didn't answer the knock and immediately heard glass breaking at the rear of their home because that not so innocent knock on the door was a burglar up to no good.
Let the person at the door know that you "can't get to the door right now" and then call the Sheriff's Station. Let the deputies sort out whether the person knocking is someone they've been looking for or is a non-threatening individual. They'll sort it out quickly and respectfully. If the person who knocked is known to you, they'll let you know who they are.
For those up to no good, we all want them to know that they're being watched and that we don't tolerate criminals or crime in our neighborhoods. Because residential burglary and thefts from vehicles have been such big issues, please make it harder for criminals to find easy targets in Altadena.
Please keep calling the Sheriff's Station . . . 626 798 1131.
And, as always, stay safe!
