DeKALB | When you hear your doorbell ring, you may need to be prepared to get a good description of who’s at your doorstep.

A problem DeKalb residents may have seen is unlicensed peddlers going door-to-door around their block.

Detective Angel Reyes of the DeKalb Police Department said these solicitors who are illegally selling various things have their own regular routine.

“They’ll come in and hit the town up for a few days usually staying at a motel in the area,” Reyes said.

One frequent peddling incident Reyes has heard about from time to time is someone trying to sell meat.

“Every now and then, you’ll see a guy who will be trying to sell meat from a cooler in his vehicle,” Reyes said.

The most common instance of this is a peddler trying to sell meat in a parking lot.

However, Reyes had an encounter of his own at home.

“I had a peddler come to my house trying to sell me meat,” he said.

DeKalb Mayor Kris Povlsen said DeKalb is no different than other towns regarding the issue of peddlers.

“DeKalb hasn’t been preyed on any more compared to other communities,” Povlsen said.

Reyes had some advice for residents on how to deal with unlicensed solicitors.

“Be polite and tell them ‘no thank you’,” he said. “When they leave call the police and give them a description on what they looked like.”