Neighborhood Watch Report from a Neighbor-Watch For Solicitors!

Greetings all,

This is a report from one of our local  NW members who wanted to share this with other neighbors to remind everyone that people are out there who will misrepresent themselves to try and gain access and information about your house. Please remember to:

1.  Never let anyone in your home without checking to make sure they work for the company they say they are from (SMUD, PG&E, AT&T, etc) f you experience any suspicious behavior from a solicitor at your door.
2. Never give private information about yourself or your neighbors to others at your door or over the phone unless you know them well.
3. Call the Sheriff's Dept. if you witness any suspicious behavior within your neighborhood.
4. Always trust your instincts and don't be afraid to be communicate in a direct and commanding method to strangers you do not trust. 

Reported November 14, 2012

This afternoon we had a young man come to our door (first rang doorbell then pounded on door).  He wanted to basically do an energy audit.  He is young, wearing a laminated badge that has the BBB symbol on it with a SMUD lanyard. He said that SMUD had sent him.   I told him no thank you and he made some small talk and moved on to the next house.  My neighbor across the street just came over and told me that the same guy came to her house and during his talk with her he said that all the people are so friendly in the neighborhood, offering him water etc.  He then asked if he could use her bathroom.  She said no and closed the door.

After he left she called SMUD and talked to their security supervisor Michael Boggs, he said that they had not sent anyone out to do energy audits.  If we ever have someone show up at our door claiming SMUD sent them, we should call him to report it.  He suggested that we send the number to our neighborhood watch people and let them know to call him if they have someone claiming to be sent by SMUD and we suspect they are not from SMUD.  Michael Boggs number is 916-732-5900.

Our concern is that this young man may have been casing the neighborhood.