The Yukon stolen February 23, 2010, from the 900 block of Albemarle Court has been recovered.
 

At 11:30 P.M. February 23, 2010, a 2003 GMC Yukon was stolen from a driveway in the 900 block of Albemarle Court.
If you have any information please call Metro Police at 574-2111 and then the City of Hurstbourne at 426-4808.

Earl Hubbuch,

Commissioner of Public Safety
 

Irrigation Backflow Preventers Stolen

Vehicle Break-ins

Property Vandalism

Vehicle Break-In

Vehicle Break-in

Vehicle Break-ins

Vehicle Vandalism

VEHICLE BREAK-INS
DOGS, DOGS, DOGS

 

Door to Door Solicitation Scams

Magazine Sales Door to Door

Jury Duty Scam 

Below is public safety information regarding door to door solicitation that I received from the Louisville Metro Police Department and I am forwarding it on for you to review.

Earl Hubbuch
Commissioner Public Safety

Door to Door Solicitors

The warm weather months bring door to door solicitors selling everything from cookies to home repairs. While there are numerous legitimate organizations and professionals who solicit door to door the industry is largely unregulated allowing many unscrupulous solicitors the opportunity to defraud consumers. In order to raise public awareness to the fraudulent practices of illegitimate door to door solicitors LMPD participated in a “Keep Louisville Safe” press conference on Monday, June 09, 2008, which outlined the following points:

Whatever product or service they are pushing, scammers will use clever and aggressive sales tactics to manipulate consumers into either purchasing items they will never receive or paying up front for services that will never be performed.

They often use ploys to lower your defenses, such as asking for a drink of water or to even ask for the use of the bathroom to case a home for a later burglary or home invasion. In order to gain credibility, many also obtain a list of residents in the neighborhood and then lie about how your “neighbor” purchased their product.

Not only do they defraud consumers, many organizations manipulate their own employees, recruiting young adults and college aged youths with promises of extra money or prizes during the summer. However, many times their employees never receive their due compensation or they are encouraged to open a line of credit through the organization to pay for their expenses. Yet the credit line is at such an exorbitant interest rate the employees hardly make a profit or become indebted to the company making it difficult for them to leave.

To combat these scammers we strongly recommend taking several simple steps:

Don’t be afraid to exercise boundaries. You can refuse to answer the door. You can politely say no thank you. I’m not interested. If you want to talk with them, we suggest you ask them to step off your porch and talk with you in the front yard.
 

If they become pushy or argumentative, be concerned. Shut the door, lock it and call the police. Simply explain to the call taker you had an aggressive sales person at the door and you couldn’t get them to leave. And then provide a description.
 

If they ask to come in to your home to use the phone or for a drink, we strongly suggest you not allow strangers into your home.
 

Look at the product carefully. For example, many magazine publishers do not want to be associated with these groups. Look over the products they are selling to make sure they are selling notable products, and even then, be wary. Many groups selling a special “cleaner” for instance will give a demonstration and then sell you a bottle of nothing but colored water.
 

And beware of fraudulent home repair companies. They will come to your door and say something like – I notice your driveway is cracked or that your shingles need to be replaced or your home could use some paint. They’ll say they are new to the area or just passing through on the way from another job. They will want to take money before doing work or add extra costs throughout the job. We strongly urge you to never pay in advance unless with a reliable company who provides a legitimate contract.
 

If they provide “references” using your neighbors – check with your neighbors first. See if they indeed purchased the product or service.
 

Finally, ask if the group is a for-profit organization and if so, ask to see their identification and permits. While legitimate charitable, non-profit and religious groups are exempted from having permits (girl scouts, church and school groups) professional solicitors are required to have a permit from Metro Inspections, Permits and Licenses. The Jefferson County Clerk’s Office issues a registration receipt for magazine and book sales.
As we continue in our efforts to Keep Louisville Safe one thing remains clear. It requires a coordinated approach of the citizens in our community along with our police department for us to effectively attack crime. This is no different.

We hope that by bringing awareness to the potential for these fraudulent groups, members of our community will decrease their potential for becoming victims.