NORWICH – An influx of door-to-door salespeople have been perusing the area for easy targets to scam for money, most commonly the elderly, according to the Norwich City Police Department.
“The best defense is education,” said Police Chief Joseph Angelino, who explained peddling, hawking or soliciting has been taking place since the invention of doors, and it was a pretty big issue back when the railroads were running and many from out of town were traveling through the area and trying to make a quick dollar.
Often what ensues is this: a salesperson will knock on a resident’s door inquiring about energy or the individual’s energy bill. They are smooth talkers, and they are con-people, according to Angelino, who added, “These are the type of criminals who can talk you out of your money.”
The chief said there have been various scams throughout the years in Norwich, including college-aged young adults peddling books, and even folks hawking fresh meat and fish out of a freezer in the back of a truck, with the promise of the freezer in exchange for $300 cash. The elderly seem to be targeted the most, he said.
“The World War II Generation is a polite and courteous generation,” said the chief. “I’m not comfortable with these people going to my mom’s door. But the folks in Norwich are very well educated.”
Angelino said the best thing to do if a resident receives a knock on the door from a stranger is to first, not let the individual or group of individuals inside the home. It would be wise to ask if the peddler’s have registered with the city. He also suggests calling the Norwich City Police right away to report that “ABC Energy,” for example, stopped by the residence in hopes of getting some money or a look at your energy bill for personal information.
“They’re so pushy,” he said. “They’ve got their rehearsed lines.”
The chief stressed for residents not to make a rushed decision, and not to hand money over to a stranger. If there is a product or service a resident needs, there is a brick and mortar business in the area able to help, and that’s by far a safer route than allowing a stranger into one’s home and turning over money or documents with personal or financial information.
Peddlers or hawkers within the city must first obtain a permit in order to go door-to-door offering a product or service.
