Capt. John Hirokawa of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department said although arresting seven solicitors in one day is unusual, door-to-door solicitors illegally selling magazine subscriptions are common in Santa Clara County. "The solicitors come to this area because they know people here have money," he said.

Lt. Terry Calderone of the sheriff's department said companies based on the East Coast hire young adults and drive them across the country in vans and then put them up in inexpensive hotels. The vans drop the solicitors off in different communities in the morning to sell subscriptions and then pick them up at the end of the day.

"Once every week or two, we have a group come into town," he said. "Every city is having this problem. Most cities are requiring a permit to sell door to door. Without a permit, it is a violation of city ordinance."

Calderone said nine times out of 10, the solicitors are from out of state. Some use fake identification, while others have warrants out for their arrest. Some are out on parole and some have been linked to crimes in the area.

Because they often lack valid identification and leave town after being cited, Hirokawa said the sheriff's department has started arresting solicitors mainly to get their fingerprints and photographs on file.

Hirokawa said solicitors sometimes ask to come inside a home to use the bathroom or the telephone. Subsequently, items have been found missing from the home. The solicitors might also be casing the home for a burglary, he said.

"These companies started by using young males, but then we started seeing them use young female blondes, who were more likely to get invited into homes," he said. "The newest scam is that they are saying they are from the local high school and are trying to raise money for a school trip."

"If they are going door to door in the middle of the day during the week and you are not home, then guess what, your house has just been marked," Hirokawa said. "That's why we require them to have permits from the city so we know who they are."

A magazine subscription solicitor was arrested in April 2005 after an 80-year-old woman in Menlo Park was raped. In December 2005, another magazine solicitor was arrested in San Jose for the rape of a 74-year-old woman.

"Don't answer the door for a stranger," Hirokawa said. "If someone is soliciting, tell them to go away and then call the police."

"You don't have to be willing to prosecute," Calderone said. "Let us catch them in the act and then we'll take care of it."

Calderone said nine times out of 10, the solicitors are from out of state. Some use fake identification, while others have warrants out for their arrest. Some are out on parole, and some have been linked to crimes in the area.

Because they often lack valid identification and leave town after being cited, Hirokawa said the sheriff's department has started arresting solicitors mainly to get their fingerprints and photographs on file.

Hirokawa said solicitors sometimes ask to come inside a home to use the bathroom or the telephone. Subsequently, items have been found missing from the home. The solicitors might also be casing the home for a burglary, he said.

"These companies started by using young males, but then we started seeing them use young female blondes, who were more likely to get invited into homes," he said. "The newest scam is that they are saying they are from the local high school and are trying to raise money for a school trip."

"If they are going door to door in the middle of the day during the week and you are not home, then guess what, your house has just been marked," Hirokawa said. "That's why we require them to have permits from the city so we know who they are."

A magazine subscription solicitor was arrested in April 2005 after an 80-year-old woman in Menlo Park was raped. In December 2005, another magazine solicitor was arrested in San Jose for the rape of a 74-year-old woman.

"Don't answer the door for a stranger," Hirokawa said. "If someone is soliciting, tell them to go away and then call the police."