[TGE-mail] FYI

[Krystal Lang]

This is just for your information, it came off the Benton Park
Listserve, this has happened on two separate occasions on our block
of Oregon:

Wed evening around 5:45 a young, slim black male, approx 12 to 14
years old, knocked on our door requesting donations for his church's
youth choir. He was dressed in "normal" dark colored clothes, no
logos on jacket and wore a dark blue/black stocking cap with a
headband or something underneath it. When I asked him what church he
went to he told me Brea Temple on Russell and Morganford. I said,
"Really? That's the church I go to. How long have you been going
there?" He said only about 3 or 4 months. I asked him his name, first
and then last. He said Christopher Haskins, which probably isn't his
real name. I then asked him if he had some kind of envelope from the
church, which he didn t. I told him I didn't have any money on me
right now but I would designate a donation to the youth chior on
Sunday. He said thank you ma'm and went on his way. Later I called my
pastor to inquire about this alleged donation campaign. My pastor
said
absolutely not! Next I called two of my next door neighbors, as we
have a phone # list for our block group when something urgent comes
up, and they both said the same kid came to their homes about 10AM on
Tue. He told them he was collecting donations for the church down the
street on Wyoming, Faith Paridise Tabernacle.

Aldrman Ortmann verified for me that this warrents a 911 call. A
solicitation permit is required and this kid could also be "casing
out" the place. I then called 911 and relayed the incident so they
have it on record. Since it had been about 45 minutes after the kid
was there by the time I called it in, she would request an officer to
drive around the area. (Chances are he was already gone and my
description was pretty general.)

I would suggest if anyone else is approached with this scam that you
ask the person to wait a minute while you go get some money, go to
another room away from their sight and call 911. Try to get a good
description of their clothing before you call. Then perhaps carry on
some idle conversation to delay their departure, ask them to sign a
receipt for tax purposes, etc. Than watch to see what direction they
head out in. Please alert your neighbors that may not be on this
contact list.


-- 
The World is Yours, Take it!
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