Police Warn That Door-to-Door Soliciting May be Part of Burglary Scam

Officials from the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station, which serves Calabasas among other areas, and surrounding police agencies are reporting an increase in residential burglaries as part of a door-to-door sales scam and are asking the public to be alert for suspicious activity.

"The MO is the suspects go door-to-door knocking," said Det. Steven Collitti.

If someone answers the door, the criminals pretend to be solicitors, Collitti said.

However, if no one answers, the burglars will either break the window of the front door to gain entry, or they will go around to the rear of the house, where they make entry either through an open door or by forcibly entering the residence, Collitti said.

The detective encourages residents to call the sheriff's station front desk to report unusual solicitor activity. That number is 818-878-1808.