Police cite illegal magazine seller

By Steve Knight/managing editor

TCC police officers are asking students to be aware of people illegally selling magazine subscriptions on NE Campus.

Police say a student purchased magazine subscriptions from an individual in December and has not received any magazines.

The student was asked by the individual to acquire cash from a campus ATM and, trusting the salesperson, did not get a sales receipt.

The crime was not reported to police until this semester when no magazines arrived.

Police say three salesmen were on NE Campus March 3 selling magazines.

The salesmen, saying they were trying to earn points for a contest, requested the buyer obtain cash from an ATM.

The first individual, calling himself Neil, is described as a white male and very tan with short spiked hair and pierced ears.

He is about 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 170 pounds, wearing khaki or light jeans and a white shirt.

The second male, wearing a lime green hood, a shirt with a DC logo and khaki shorts, introduced himself as Aaron.

The third individual was only described as a Hispanic male.

An individual was again reported on NE Campus selling magazine subscriptions March 4.

During a police interview, that person, who was issued a criminal trespass warning, said he was from out of state and dropped off at different locations, such as the Wal-Mart parking lot, and later picked up by a supervisor.

TCC Police Sgt. Tony Woolum said these salesmen are slick, forceful and convincing.

“They are usually 18-25 years old and dress as typical college students,” he said. “Last semester, they posed as TCC students as part of a RTVB [radio-television] fundraiser.”

TCC police, familiar with the operation, say these salesmen travel across the country in groups, usually in a white passenger van with out-of-state license plates.

Woolum said these salesmen only approach women and use flattery as part of their sales pitch.

“In 15 years [as a police officer], no one has ever received magazines,” he said.

Police say magazine subscriptions or any other solicitations are not permitted on campus unless approved by campus administration.

Woolum asked anyone with information regarding this crime to contact the police department’s communication division at 817-515-8911 or 8911 from a campus phone.