City of Bellemeade

Folks, call the police!!! Apparently, Larry was the first one to call the police, but by that time one woman had knocked on dorrs all the way from Shelbyville Road around to his house on Dorchester. According to numerous sources, these companies use these young people and also defraud the customer.  Checks are altered; identities are stolen and people do not know it until months (even years) later.  Everone loses except the bosses.

Several months (maybe 24?) ago, the LMPD officer who wrote the book on solicitors and scammers stood on my front door step and told me to call 991 when unlicensed solicitors are in the neighborhood.  He said they are breaking the law; they could be scammers or casing the neighborhood for an "easy hit."  He said don't even answer the door - CALL 911.  Do not let them see that a 15 year old girl is there apparently alone  or that an infirm senior lives in that particular house, or that you do or do not have a dead bolt lock or a dog, or that you do or do not keep your outside door locked.

Magazine sales people, driveway sealers, tree people, charity collectors, whatever - they all are required to have the METRO PERMIT - PERIOD.  The permit is a card almost identical to out Kentucky drivers license. An honest solicitor with have the permit visible BEFORE they knock on your door.

Call the police - 911.  Notify your Block Watch contact - tell other peole so someone does not get RIPPED OFF.  It does not do any good to spread the word 24 hours later - nip it in the bud at the get go - like Barney on Mayberry RFD says, "nip it Andy!  Nip it!  Nip it,Nip it!!

Buy one of those little signs that says, "NO TRESPASSING" or "NO SOLICITORS" and put it in your yard on on your front steps somewhere.  Then, according to the LMPD officer, the only people who can LEGALLY knock on your door are the police, the mail delivery person, the fire department, EMS, and people you invited. 

Call the police; they may be looking for that particular person like one time when I called recently.  They were happy to get my call.  Our police officers are very co-operative.  Help them help us.

WOW!  That is one more passionate post!!!  But, he is right; if we, the law-abiding citizens,  don't work together, plan ahead, and look out for each other, we shall find ourselves at the mercy of the more aggressive, criminal element in our nation.  Let us NOT reach the point where we are afraid in our own homes.  It takes a CONTINUAL vigilance to head off those who take things that belong to other people to include lives.

On the 12th of July, I attend a meeting about neighborhood watch and left feeling good about neighbors taking care of neighbors.  But, a five weeks later, I see that Bellemeade has had scammers, three police incidents, people posing as security company maintenance peole, suspicious vehicles, and a severe storm, but I have yet to receive an alert from Neighborhood Watch or have anyone call to check on us.  I checked with my friends in five other blocks and neither have three of them.  I honestly think people just don't want to get involved, and they won't without strong leadership.  I am afraid sense of community is a thing of the past.

By the way, I personally have seen a lot of younger people cutting through yards.  I don't know who they are other than the fact that they all smoke cigarettes and they turn their faces away or wear hoods even in hot weather.  Are things like this things that block watch should be interested in or is it being nosy?