Don’t Answer Door-to-Door Solicitors, Senior Lead Officer Says

A local reader asked about a seeming proliferation in door-to-door salesman. Studio City’s Senior Lead Officer Mike Lewis notes that this is a way that some potential burglars use to stake out what houses are vacant and at what times of day.

Lewis recommends that people should answer the door, but they don’t have to open it. You can speak through the door and don’t have to open it. 

The local resident from the Beeman Park area, said: 

There was actually a group of about 5 guys total walking up our street yesterday with clipboards. I could see that they split up and started knocking on doors. I did not open my door when they rang the bell, but yelled through the door that I was busy (my dog was barking really loud)… so I do not know what they were saying to people. I can tell you that they did not look like "painters.” 

In response, Lewis notes:

I'm getting many calls and complaints about numerous door to door solicitors and individuals going door to door asking for work and attempting to sell magazine subscriptions. Burglars usually don't have clipboards or give out business cards. For whatever reason, Studio City is inundated with individuals going door to door. 

I have looked at my crime maps, I have a big problem with car break-in's, but it’s occurring mainly in the middle of the night.