Warning Issued on Unlicensed Vendors

The Sheriff’s Department has issued an alert to Thousand Oaks residents to be on the lookout for unlicensed door-to-door salespeople.

One of the organizations the department is warning consumers about is Austin Diversified, a Dominguez Hills cleaning supply company that had its business permits revoked in Camarillo last month because several of its salespeople were arrested on suspicion of prowling and falsifying documents.

Austin Diversified has been selling door-to-door in Thousand Oaks for the past year. But according to city Finance Director Bob Biery, the company does not have a valid business permit.

Austin Diversified’s president, Nathan Edwards, said Thursday that city officials are harassing his company. He alleges the action is racially motivated because his sales force is mostly black.

He said the city has cashed $700 worth of checks he has submitted for the permits.

“To put it plain and simple: They don’t want us selling door-to-door,” Edwards said. “They’re just hoping we will go away.”

City leaders and the Sheriff’s Department denied Edwards’ accusations that Thousand Oaks residents don’t want black salespeople knocking on their doors.

Sheriff’s Capt. Arve Wells said the department has received several complaints from residents about “overly aggressive” door-to-door salespeople, though they did not specify problems with Austin Diversified representatives.

Biery, meanwhile, acknowledged the city has deposited Austin Diversified’s checks. He said, however, that the company has not received permits because it has not filled out the proper city paperwork.

Edwards said Biery’s comments were “news to him.”

Austin Diversified recruits many of its salespeople--including one who had been convicted of theft--from the Midwest in an attempt to remove them from an atmosphere of gangs, drugs or violence, Edwards said.

Authorities have not filed charges against any of Edwards’ employees over the Camarillo incidents. He said he plans to sue Camarillo on grounds the city is violating his company’s free speech rights. Edwards also said he would attempt to straighten out the permit problem in Thousand Oaks.