LPD: Beware of door-to-door sales scam

LOXLEY, Ala. (WALA) - Loxley police said they want the public to be aware of thieves posing as door-to-door sales reps.

According to officials, a 90-year-old Loxley woman became the target of a band of phony sales reps last week and wound up a victim of theft.

Police said the thieves pretended to be selling vacuums.

“There were two females and two males that the elderly female allowed to enter the residence,” said Loxley Police Sergeant Billy Coley.

They said the elderly victim allowed the two women to use her restroom, which they did repeatedly.

“I just thought they were having car trouble,” said the 90-year-old victim of theft, whom wished to remain anonymous.

The victim said two of the suspects said they were engaged.

“He said one of these girls was his fianceé. The first man that came in said one of these girls was his fianceé. And he said, ‘I may have to borrow a ring from you,’” said the victim.

The victim said one of the women asked to see the homeowners vacuum and even went so far as to get one from a hallway closet.   

According to the victim, one of the men brought in a vacuum box from outside and tried to make a deal with the owner.

“They wanted me to trade both of my vacuum cleaners in on the one they had for a $980 difference,” said the victim.

Police have some recommendations for you to avoid becoming a victim.

“We recommend limiting the area sales people are allowed to go through in your residence, set those perimeters up front when they come in to your residence and don't allow them to use your restroom or go anywhere else in your house without your presence,” said Sgt. Coley.

If you don't, police said you could be taken advantage of and lose something valuable.

“I had the first ring my husband had ever given me. I didn't have a ring when we first got married, and then he gave me one a few years later,” said the victim.

She said she had three rings, including the one her late-husband gave to her, and a checkbook stolen. The victim said she didn’t discover the missing items until the next day. 

The victim described the female suspects as a brunette with an average build; the other a blond heavy-set woman. She also said one of the two men had brown shaggy hair and the others called him "Tyler."  The fourth man she described as tall and slender.

The suspects told the victim they were from Pascagoula. 

Call Loxley Police or your local law enforcement agency if you know anything about this crime, or believe you've been the victim of a similar scam.