LJWorld.com weblogs The Lawrence Crime Blotter

Solicitor nabbed; toilet explodes

Posted by Eric Weslander
July 6, 2006 at 11:13 a.m.

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News from this morning's police briefing:¢ Wrong door: A solicitor going door-to-door selling cleaning solutions without a required city license picked the wrong home to visit Wednesday afternoon: That of Lawrence Police Capt. Dan Affalter. Affalter called an officer to the scene, and the saleswoman, an 18-year-old Grandview, Mo. woman, was arrested for soliciting without a license. She was released on bond and ordered to appear in court July 19. The city requires people selling items door-to-door to carry a license and keep their information on file with the city clerk's office. Other crimes reported this morning:¢ 1300 block of north 1300 Road: A Honda four-wheeler and a 25-gallon sprayer valued at more than $4,700 total disappeared between roughly 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday.¢ Lower Walnut campground, Clinton Lake: Someone destroyed a toilet with an explosive device between midnight and 1 a.m. Tuesday. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is investigating it as a case of arson.¢ 500 block of Rockledge Road; A 25-year-old woman told police her boyfriend choked her, hit her, threatened to kill her and broke a window at her apartment Wednesday morning. Police are trying to find the man but hadn't as of this morning. ¢ 2700 block of Lawrence Ave.: A 56-year-old man's Isuzu Rodeo valued at $4,000, along with $20,000 in tools, were stolen between 11 p.m. Monday and 8 a.m. Tuesday.¢ 1600 block of Tennessee St.: Someone broke a window at the Sigma Phi Epsilon House between 6 p.m. Friday and 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and stole a 52-inch TV valued at $2,500.

Comments

conservative 11 years, 9 months ago

If the commission wants to ban something it should be solicitors. I actually had one come to my door on the 4th! I'm always nice when I stop their little spiel and let them know I don't do anything with people who go door to door. Most appreciate it and move on. This one got indignant and tried to tell me he wasn't selling anything (clipboard and pen in hand).

I don't understand why people get upset when I try to save their time and mine. The only things I buy door to door is in support of neighbor kids that I actually know.

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reginafliangie 11 years, 9 months ago

Good! Im sick of solicitors coming to my door when there is a big sign on the screen door that says, "no solicitors". I guess they don't think it applies to "them", just the other annoying sellers.

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JackKats 11 years, 9 months ago

Reginafliangie

Actually the sign on your door screams to solicitors that you can not say no and you are an easy target. Easier to put up a sign then to say "no"?

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conservative 11 years, 9 months ago

JackKats, some might interpret it that way. Others that the occupant won't even take the time to tell you no nicely the first time.

I've thought about putting one up at my place, but it wouldn't look right, so I'm nice with the first no. If I have to say no twice though it stops being in a friendly manner.

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reginafliangie 11 years, 9 months ago

Jack, it's actually a time saver for them. Why go to a door when it clearly states I have no interest. Instead waste 5 minutes trying to "beg" me to buy their products that I don't want. It's saying move on. But if they insist on coming to my door and want the personal touch of a "no". Well then, knock on my door. You will hear it in person. Hope that will make it more CLEAR.

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Steve Jacob 11 years, 9 months ago

Well, if she was cute, men will let her speck. Not along of ugly people on TV commericals you know.

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OldEnuf2BYurDad 11 years, 9 months ago

"Someone destroyed a toilet with an explosive device between midnight and 1 a.m. Tuesday. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is investigating it as a case of arson."

Instead of being a case of arson, it may have just been a case of "El Monterrey Green Chile Frozen Burrito Syndrome". I get that sometimes, and I'd call that "an explosive device".

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OldEnuf2BYurDad 11 years, 9 months ago

When EMGCFB Syndrome hits our house, the cats hide under the bed. It's like a scene from Saving Private Ryan. Loud, scary explosions. People running, screaming. All hope lost. A gruesome clean-up. All the horrors of war in one bathroom.

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nbnozzy 11 years, 9 months ago

I like hearing that solicitors without proper licensing are being ticketed. Had one trying to sell me that cleaning solution a couple of weeks ago. Told him I needed to see his city approved license to sell before I would talk to him. He said he would go get it only to go to the next house and ignored me. I followed him and let him know I would call the police unless he produced proof of a legit license. He ran to a waiting vehicle and took off.

The problem with these people are at least two-fold. It takes away a sale from the licensed business salespeople in Lawrence trying to earn a legitimate paycheck. And NO sales taxes are collected for the city. Please say no thank you to these scammers. In the last year I've had these traveling scammers trying to sell me inferior colognes and perfumes, cheap tools, and the cleaning solution. They come to my business and home. Tired of seeing them.

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mom_of_three 11 years, 9 months ago

We've had a few salesmen in the neighborhood, but none come to our door. I only buy from kids and organizations I know.

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reginafliangie 11 years, 9 months ago

Call City Hall Bob, they would be able to tell you. That would be cool if they did!

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Centrist 11 years, 9 months ago

The tools were worth 4 times the car?? Wow - some tools ...

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Centrist 11 years, 9 months ago

Oops .. make that 5 times .. even more "wow" ..

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GSWtotheheart 11 years, 9 months ago

or don't answer the door at all

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bearded_gnome 11 years, 9 months ago

explosive device...investigated as a case of arson. what else could it be investigated as? oh, how about just bomb testing?
Or, what if this is a new form of terrorism?
"we're the rural form of al-qaeda, and your privvy ain't safe!" "be afraid, be very afraid!"

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justsomewench 11 years, 9 months ago

the onslaught of solicitors is freaking me out. i've had 2 in the last week. they're claiming to know my neighbors (i don't even know my neighbors), elude to my marital status (or lack thereof), and always end by asking for cold water. i offered room temperature bottled water to one last night and he refused it because it wasn't cold. only one bothered to show a solicitor's license voluntarily, but only after jokingly (?) begging me not to shoot him when i opened the door. i was in a business suit with my 12 year old girl behind me. i didn't find it humorous, but i'm not sure if i was more offended that he deemed the neighborhood rough enough to have cause for answering the door with a gun or worried that he was subconsciously suggesting i should.

it makes me worry they're casing local neighborhoods for good places to loot during the day. the sign is going up tonight.

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Redzilla 11 years, 9 months ago

Old Enuf, nice one. I was going to suggest that the exploding toilet was proof that while Taco Bell's new menu might be healthier, it is not safer.

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Confrontation 11 years, 9 months ago

I always loved this sign on my aunt's door:

Caution Solicitors Walk Away and Live Knock and Die -NRA Member

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dthroat 11 years, 9 months ago

Thank goodness I no longer deal with solicitors since I moved to the county (I do still get church people though). Seriously though, everyone needs to be cautious of them. NOT ALL of them, but there have been documented incidents of theft, burglaries, and even rape from these people (granted several years ago - I am an old timer).

DO NOT let them into your house for any reason, particularly if there is more than one. And I don't care if they DO have a license. The license is NOT a background check on the individual, heck the company hiring them may not know anything about them.

Buy from the neighborhood kids for good causes, but not anyone you don't know.

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Berserk 11 years, 9 months ago

I feel so bad for the poor emo fratastics, losing their 52" tv and all, now they can't watch Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, they won't know what to wear without Carson...

sobs

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Jersey_Girl 11 years, 9 months ago

I don't answer the door if I'm not expecting anyone. It's usually just Jehovah's Witnesses (I peer out and check when they leave).

Confrontation - I like your aunt's sign!

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H_Lecter 11 years, 9 months ago

Why, I always invite them in...and ask them to follow me to the basement.

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Kelly Powell 11 years, 9 months ago

Ha! That's good....I usually sharpen a big knife when talking to salesmen or if they are jehovahs witnesses offer them a martini and keep trying to give them back rubs.....

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Jillster 11 years, 9 months ago

reginafliangie wrote:

"Im sick of solicitors coming to my door when there is a big sign on the screen door that says, "no solicitors". I guess they don't think it applies to "them", just the other annoying sellers."

They usually just don't know what the word "solicitor" means.

Igorance is bliss!

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