Members of the Audrain County Crime Stoppers Committee recently met to discuss ways to address complaints about peddlers and solicitors in Audrain County. Peddlers and solicitors can provide benefits and challenges to our towns and county, and our residents. While they may provide an opportunity to bring interested parties (buyers and sellers) together, they also, cause problems not typically associated with permanently established local businesses.
Less than positive experiences can lead disgruntled residents to contact the Sheriff’s office or local police demanding relief, including:
• Protection from fraud, scam artists, and other unwanted intrusions.
• Prevention of crimes and unlawful activities.
• A direct city/county response to their uneasiness and need for safety in the community.
Therefore, Audrain County Crime Stoppers have designed a static cling type placard to be posted on your door or window to make it known that peddlers and solicitors are not welcome.
The placard is intended to be a safety enhancement against shady or unscrupulous peddlers. There are many honest door to door salespeople and peddlers with good products. We are not targeting them. It has been brought to our attention that people do not want the disruption in their homes, and they are concerned about possible scams. The majority of residents believe that technology has changed considerably. They often shop online and retail business has expanded over the years providing more opportunity for shopping. Basically, people are more sensitive to being disrupted in their homes, either by telephone or unsolicited visitors.
Peddlers must apply and be granted a license in the City of Mexico. This license is not to be regarded as an endorsement of any product or solicitor. It merely serves as regulation of business conducted inside the city limits.
We hope the posting of the No Peddlers/No Solicitors placard will dissuade door to door salespeople from knocking on your door. Placards are available at the Audrain County Sheriff’s Office and in Mexico at City Hall, Department of Public Safety and the Mexico Chamber of Commerce.