WICHITA, Kan. – Another scam has hit the area, this time citizens are being targeted by individuals who claim to be selling Kirby vacuum cleaners and carpet cleaning services.
Law enforcement say they have targeted residents in Sedgwick County, however may be working other areas as well.
The vacuum cleaner sales people are described as very pushy, and won’t take no for an answer. They often walk right in as soon as the homeowner opens the front door. At times the homeowner is taking hours to get rid of them. While in the house they wander around, go to bathrooms and bedrooms all as part of the “service” they are offering. Occasionally they don’t even have a product to demo with them. Often times, several days later, these residences are being burglarized.
The suspects are driving a large, eight passenger type Dodge van with tags from Texas, Nebraska, Kansas or Oklahoma.
The primary suspect is a white female with blonde hair and black teeth. There are usually one or two males, both African American and Caucasian, waiting in the van which is sometimes out front or just down the street within sight of the house. They are described as dirty, bad dressers, and smell bad. Kirby Corp says that no one is selling for them door to door in the area and if they were, they would be nicely dressed and would present a laminated company ID card when they rang the bell.
The burglaries have resulted in losses of TV’s, jewelry and guns. 24 reports of this group have been reported in Sedgwick County, but may also be working other areas.
Call law enforcement if these people come to your door or are in your neighborhood.