Petaluma police warn residents about suspected door-to-door scam

Petaluma police warned the public Thursday to be wary of door-to-door solicitations after residents complained about a group of people asking for donations to a for-profit company claiming to send care packages to U.S. military troops overseas.

Officers contacted two teenagers in west Petaluma neighborhoods who did not have permits to make solicitations, including a Maryland teenager who had at least two “city-only” misdemeanor warrants for similar incidents of unlawfully soliciting money in Southern California, Petaluma Police Lt. Ken Savano said.

Terrance Johnson, 19, told the officer he was working for a Louisiana company called CarePackagingCampaign.org, according to police. Officers cited Johnson to appear before a judge and warned another teen, 18-year-old Ethan Zimmerman of Idaho to stop going door-to-door.

A group of people apparently began knocking on doors Tuesday and continued Wednesday, causing several residents to call police with reports of up to eight people asking for money in neighborhoods.

Officers tracked down Johnson at about 6:45 p.m. Wednesday on 12th Street and later found Zimmerman on Mountain View Avenue near Baker Court, Savano said.

Savano said he did not know if the company was legitimate. However, he said that it is a common tactic for potentially fraudulent companies to bring young people to an area to ask for money and earn a commission based on their take.

“We’re all for supporting public or private organizations that are looking to help,” Savano said. “But when they come in (to Petaluma) to do solicitor work they have to get a permit from the city so we can make sure people with criminal histories aren’t trying to take advantage of residents.”

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.