Local Salesman Triggers Alarms Peddling His Product

CEDAR PARK-LEANDER, TX -- A Cedar Park-based salesman’s ambition in trying to expand his sales service area almost got the better of him, legally speaking.

The man was apparently going door to door trying to sell water conditioners, but one of his would-be clients called the police instead of buying his product. There’s debate as to whether the salesman misrepresented himself as a City of Temple water department employee as he pursued sales.

In any event, police were called. And what began as a sales call set off alarm bells at the Temple Police Department instead.

The Temple Daily Telegram newspaper wrote about the incident, detailing how a prospective customer alerted police to what ended up being just a case of over-ambition.

The Temple resident told police he asked the man for some sort of identification in mid-pitch, which sent the man scurrying for his vehicle.

The report triggered police action in Temple in the form of a Facebook post warning residents to be alert to potential scams. An investigation was launched into the matter, the newspaper reports.

The action was especially taken after the resident reported the man asked for entry into the home to check on water issues. The heightened security was quelled after the salesman’s company was contacted and a positive identification of the man was made.

The salesman’s “crime” ended up trying to sell within a geographical area in which the company had no permits to operate. The company was detailed on the infraction, and an internal investigation there was also launched.

Through social media, police took the opportunity to use the incident as teachable moment. Police outlined steps residents can take if there’s any confusion whether visitors at the door are city employees.

No word on whether the water conditioner company employee was disciplined for inadvertently sending an entire city into panic.