Crime & Safety
Campbell Solicitor Took Off Running After Confrontation with Resident
Solicitors are required to have a permit in the city of Campbell. When in doubt, call the police.
Campbell Patch received the tip from Facebook reader Craig Walker that there was a young solicitor going door to door, offering false information and urged readers to be on the look out on Tuesday.
"Beware of an young black man knocking on doors trying to collect money for Hillsdale High School, which he claimed is on Branham Rd. in San Jose next to Branham High," Walker said in his post. "Well he knocked on the wrong door. I sell Real Estate in the area and went to Branham High located on Branham Lane. After he realized I had caught him, he took off running."
Walker called Campbell Police and gave them the young man's description as well as what he was wearing: a UCLA gray hoodie and green shorts.
About a dozen residents commented and shared their experiences on the post and offered suggestions for "next times."
Campbell Police Capt. Dave Carmichael verified that police received the call around 6:00 p.m. and that an officer was dispatched, but no suspect was found.
Earlier this year, the city of Los Gatos noted an uptick in door-to-door solicitor-related crimes but Campbell police have not noticed this in the Orchard City.
In the city of Campbell, solicitors are required to have a permit from the city prior to going door to door if they are selling or promoting a product, Carmichael said.
"An exception to the permit requirement would obviously be subjects who are engaging in religious, political, or other speech protected by the First Amendment," he said. "If a solicitor is legitimate, they should have with them a permit issued by the city. If there is any doubt about their validity or if the subject displays any sort of aggressive or suspicious behavior, we want our residents to immediately call the police."
Carmichael said that residents can get a hold of Campbell PD by either calling 9-1-1 or the non-emergency number of 408-866-2101.
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Have you encountered a similar solicitor? What is your policy on the matter? Share with us in the comments section below.
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