Door-to-door peddlers are back in Thousand Oaks, attempting to sell books under false pretenses, according to Thousand Oaks resident Dave Saltmarsh.

Saltmarsh, who lives in a gated community in Sunset Hills, said a young man came knocking at his door recently, claiming he was the son of a neighbor selling books for the benefit of a local baseball team.

The pitch appeared credible at first, but the young salesman's story quickly lost its integrity when Saltmarsh wanted details. The salesman also appeared too old to be on a youth team, he said.

According to Saltmarsh, Thousand Oaks police officers said they'd received several reports of similar door-to-door sales incidents but there's not much they can do about them because the culprits move on quickly when they're exposed.

"They said about 20 of them are staying at local hotels and then canvassing the neighborhoods, and when they get cited, they just move on," he said.

Saltmarsh suspects that a company called Ultimate Power Sales Inc. is involved in the doortodoor campaign in his neighborhood because that company uses such tactics.

According to reports, Ultimate Power Sales allegedly sends out traveling sales crews to various locations to sell magazines and books for the benefit of local schools and sports teams. The company is linked with United Family Circulations, based in Buford, Ga.

Ultimate Power Sales isn't on the list of businesses that applied for a license with the city, according to Terri Scott, public services supervisor for the city of Thousand Oaks.

Whenever residents encounter a solicitor other than a child under the age of 18 who's raising funds for a nonprofit, they should ask to see a city-issued badge, which is provided when they apply for a license. If none is displayed, citizens should call the police, she said.

The peddlers often come in groups to canvass neighborhoods, said Senior Dep. Larry Logan, who works with the crime prevention unit of the Thousand Oaks Police.

Authorities ask residents to call them when they see adults soliciting because groups or individuals may also use the guise to case out neighborhoods and force entry into homes, said Logan.

At this time of year, licensed door-to-door solicitors are allowed to work from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. only, Logan said. Acorn Bits Licensed door-to-door salespeople must

pass a background check and get a

city-issued badge featuring photo

identification before they can work in

Thousand Oaks. Unless the seller is a child, residents should always ask to see that badge before they make purchases,

say city and law enforcement officials.