The Thomasville Police Department recently received numerous calls in reference to persons soliciting for money at various intersections in the city.  It was advised that the individuals were walking in the street while cars were stopped at red lights and knocking on windows while asking for money.  Thomasville Police Officers are familiar with our regular homeless community and suspected that the person(s) soliciting in these cases were doing so under false pretenses.  The Thomasville Police Department is sensitive to those in need and, just like many others in our community, go beyond the call to assist those individuals.  However, after a brief surveillance detail, suspicions grew that the individuals were soliciting as a means of their own "employment" and not because they had fallen on hard times and/or homeless.  They were even using a female accomplice with a small child to add to their scam.  It also appears that these individuals travel from city to city and all under a ruse that they have fallen on hard times. We found that after making contact with them, that they would suspiciously walk to their vehicles that were parked nearby and then relocate to other locations.  The investigation also showed that these individuals travel to/from Florida and have residences in Florida.  The Thomasville Police Department asks our community to be aware of these scams and that some persons will exploit others peoples situation for their own self gain.

Two males have been arrested and charged recently.  Ionel Catalan and Veniamin Stoica were charged with Pedestrian Solicitation, a misdemeanor.