AMARILLO, TEXAS -- It might feel like Summer, even though it's still Spring, and that means you're going to see some activity in your neighborhood that could get aggressive.
This is when law enforcement sees an increase in door-to-door soliciting. You'll probably see those people going door-to-door selling everything from alarms to carpet cleaner, but how do you what's legitimate?
"It is legal to solicit, provided you do have a permit, state law gives them that right," said Cpl. Jerry Neufeld, with the Amarillo Police Department. That permit just means they've done their homework, it is not an endorsement. When it comes to door alarm sales, those need a license from the Department of Public Safety. "Ask them for their DPS pocket ID. It should have their picture on there and it identifies them as being licensed through the state of Texas to sell alarm systems," said Trooper Gabe Medrano, the Public Information Officer for DPS.
"The permit just means that they did come down and they filled out the appropriate paper work. We verified that they are not involved in any criminal activity or they don't have a criminal record that would prevent them from doing door-to-door solicitation. That does not mean the product that they are selling is a good product. It doesn't mean it's a bad product," said Neufeld.
When it comes to products they want to sell, some of these salespeople have a reputation of being pushy, "one thing you have to be aware of his that they can be a little bit aggressive in their tactics trying to get you to commit right then and not give you an opportunity to say, "Hey, let me look at this and review it and then I'll get back to you," said Medrano. "We have seen times in the past where once that person gets inside, one it's very difficult to get them back out of your house. The pressure sales increase greatly, and then unfortunately we've had a few cases where something comes up missing, while somebody goes to get a drink for them, a wallet is taken out of a purse, or jewelry is picked up off a table or something like that," said Nuefeld.
If you want to check if a salesperson or installer is licensed for door alarms in Texas, click here. If someone drops by and you feel uneasy, or they won't leave, the APD said you can always call them.
