Police warn of phony sales

MONTROSE — A rise in the number of calls about door-to-door solicitations in north Glendale has prompted police to advise residents to watch for fraudulent sales pitches.

Glendale police on Friday night e-mailed a crime bulletin to residents about the increase in door-to-door sales calls, which they said are legal in the city with the proper permits.

But officers have seen a marked increased in calls from residents concerned about suspicious solicitation efforts, Lt. Ian Grimes said.

“They are basically trying to appeal to people’s charitable nature and willingness to give,” he said.

Along with the increase in door-to-door solicitations, several vehicles have been burglarized, Grimes said.

There might be a connection between the thefts and door-to-door solicitations given that many solicitors are on foot, he added, although that link had not been established. Police arrested 21-year-old Texas resident Robert Barnes on Feb. 10 for allegedly misrepresenting himself as selling magazines for Iowa-based United Communications, Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

An alleged victim of Barnes notified police, Lorenz said, after Barnes said he was a UCLA student trying to raise funds for his soccer team. But Lorenz said that when officers found him in the area of Broadview Drive and Las Palmas Avenue, Barnes said he was working for the company to raise money for a trip to Ireland.

Officers arrested Barnes after he failed to produce the proper permit. He was carrying a couple of $40 checks and $134 in cash, Lorenz said.

“Never write out a check to a stranger,” he said.

Checks contain valuable account information, including routing numbers, and can be used to buy items on the Internet, he said.

Legitimate solicitors and advertisers must have permits issued by the city clerk’s office, the police bulletin stated. Religious and nonprofit organizations are allowed to spread their messages without a permit, but they must not seek donations or sell products.

With U.S. Census workers gearing up to start public outreach in the next two months, police said they were concerned that some people may take advantage of the campaign and try to get residents to give out bank account information, Sgt. John Gilkerson said.

“It’s important that they don’t give out account information to people they don’t know,” he said.

Legitimate census representatives, he said, will not ask for Social Security or bank account numbers, so residents should not give that information out.

Census representatives must also wear identification. But if it looks suspicious, residents should call police, Gilkerson said.