San Diego Police remind residents to report suspicious activity, solicitors

San Diego Police are advising residents to be watchful of solicitors going through their neighborhoods and to call police if they see any suspicious activity.

Community Relations Officer Shannah Oliveras from Northeastern Division said daytime burglaries are on the rise, so people should be wary of anyone going door-to-door, using the guise of being a solicitor to fiddle with doorknobs or access backyards.

“Most solicitors do not have a permit to solicit in the City of San Diego,” Oliveras said at the Rancho Bernardo Community Council meeting on Feb. 26. “(Permits) are very hard to get.”

There has reportedly been an increase in concerns about solicitors, or those posing as such, expressed by Rancho Bernardans on social media. While helpful to post to neighborhood websites, like Nextdoor.com that the police department promotes, Oliveras said those posts are likely not seen by herself or other officers due to website restrictions. Therefore, residents need to contact the police department directly in addition to posting to warn their neighbors, or if they see a post by another resident, they should forward it to police.

“Don’t feel bad about calling the police,” she said. “We will get there as soon as possible.”

In non-emergency situations, she said residents should call SDPD at 858-484-3154. If they see a potential crime in progress — like someone climbing over a gate or they hear someone fiddling with their doorknob — they should call 911.

“Calling us the next day is not going to help us,” Oliveras said, saying helpful information includes a description of the person and direction the individual is traveling on foot or in a vehicle. “If we get the information hours later, by then (the person) went on to a different community.”

She reminded those present that they are not obligated to answer their door, especially when they are not expecting someone or do not know the individual.

Oliveras said residents who have non-emergency safety concerns can reach her directly at 858-538-8028.

Capt. Dawn Summers also spoke, giving an update on what has been going on at Northeastern Division, a 104 square mile area from Miramar to San Pasqual covered by around 60 officers among three shifts.

“They do a good job with the resources we have,” Summers said.

Summers mentioned some of Northeastern’s recent cases that got media attention, including the attempted murder of CBS8 Sports Director Kyle Kraska outside his Scripps Ranch home; robberies of the post office and Little Caesar’s in Rancho Bernardo; and an officer-involved shooting in Mira Mesa.

“We’re staying level with the crooks, maybe a step ahead,” Summers said.

She said more automated external defibrillators are coming to Northeastern Division. It has already received 10 of the 40 it will eventually receive. The police department is getting the AEDs so officers will have the lifesaving devices in their patrol vehicles and at other locations so they are more readily available throughout communities when medical situations warranting their use arise.