But these days, according to the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, outside groups are taking advantage of residents' generosity and selling magazines and newspaper subscriptions while claiming to be local students. It's left some residents feeling threatened, and tarnished the reputation of honest groups looking to raise money for worthwhile projects.

What's more, magazine and newspaper subscription salespeople have fallen under intense scrutiny in the past month after a magazine salesman was arrested in San Jose on suspicion of having raped and murdered a 74-year-old woman in her home.

Sunnyvale resident Holly Lofgren said a man who claimed to be a student teacher from nearby Santa Clara High School came to her house last year trying to sell newspapers. He told her that his twin brother, "Jeff Ainsworth," was a football player for the San Francisco

49ers and had bought a home in the area recently.

"I had no reason not to believe him; I thought he was just a student teacher and a new neighbor," Lofgren said. "This guy wove an elaborate lie to sell a magazine. He wove it very well."

Lofgren called Santa Clara High School, and they said they did not have a student teacher that matched her description of the man, and there were no 49er players named Jeff Ainsworth.

Three days after signing up for the magazine, she called the man's company--International Subscription Services in Texas--and cancelled her subscription.

At press time, International Subscription Services could not be reached for comment.

Lofgren said her experience made her change the way she handles door-to-door salespeople.

"I never wanted to put up a 'No Solicitors,' sign because I didn't want to discourage people from talking to me, especially Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and political people, but that was the turning point for me," she said.

According to Dean Discher, Sunnyvale neighborhood resource officer, there have not been any attacks or other violent incidents in Sunnyvale, but he encourages residents to be careful with anyone who comes to their door.

He said complaints about suspicious peddlers are common.

"Residents usually call when they don't have a good feeling about the person for whatever reason," he said. "Most of the time, the people walking around are not people we want in our community."

According to Sunnyvale Municipal Code No. 5.28, anyone who offers products or services and asks for more than $20 is considered a peddler and must obtain a one-year permit to be operating. They must carry that permit and personal identification with them.

Discher said he has worked with local schools and other groups to help them better represent themselves while fundraising. For sports teams and other youth groups, he suggests that children wear team or group outfits and travel with a parent.

He suggested concerned residents get a "No Solicitors," or "No Peddlers" sign for their front door. He also said he tells residents to avoid dangerous situations by not unlocking or opening their doors for people unless they know who it is

For more information, or to report suspicious activities, residents can call the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety at 408.730.7180.