Public Notice: Safety Begins With Caution!!
USE CAUTION WHEN UNKNOWN PERSONS KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR!
WANTAGE TOWNSHIP REQUIRES A SOLICITOR/PEDDLER PERMIT —
ASK TO SEE IT BEFORE YOU OPEN YOUR DOOR TO PEOPLE ASKING FOR MONEY!
Reports from Wantage residents indicate that a group of individuals have recently been knocking on the doors of people living in the area of State Highway Route 284, asking for money.
All Residents Should Exercise Caution before opening their door to an unknown individual. If you do not know the person, do not open your door until you have properly identified the person and their purpose!
Wantage Township Ordinance 4-4 requires that any person obtain a permit, - which includes a police background check - prior to soliciting or peddling within Wantage Township. Ask to see the Wantage Township Solicitor's Permit before opening your door to any one who is asking for money, or offering to provide any service to you in exchange for payment. This Permit will have a photograph of the individual, along with the signature of the Wantage Township Clerk, James R. Doherty. If the permit they show you does not have these items, then it is not a valid Wantage Permit.
This requirement does not apply to bona fide members of a charitable, religious or non-profit organization, nor does it apply to individuals holding a state-issued Veteran's Peddler Permit ... But even those individuals need to have identification readily available to prove that they are who they say they are!
The Bottom Line: What you do with your money is, always, your own decision. But for the sake of your own safety, do not open your door to any person unless they show you a valid local or state permit, or unless they show you a valid identification from an organization you know and trust! When in doubt, tell them to send you something in the mail and you will give it your consideration, rather than open your door to an unknown individual.
Safety First!
posted 2/18/10