Census takers hit streets in area towns

April 25, 2010 12:00 am • Last Updated: April 25, 2010 3:14 am

By By AMY RENCZKOWSKI Day Staff Writer

Census workers might have to go to extra lengths to make sure they are not mistaken for burglars in East Lyme and Montville, where robberies are a problem lately.

A recent trend in those communities has criminals walking up to a home and knocking on the front door, police officials said. If someone answers, the criminal gives an excuse and leaves. If not, the thief kicks in the door.

Next weekend, Census Bureau employees, also called enumerators, will start visiting homes of people who haven't mailed in their census forms. In eastern Connecticut, there are about 110,000 places scheduled for enumerators to visit with the task of helping residents fill out their census questionnaires.

During this time, police are warning residents through neighborhood watch groups to keep an eye out for criminals impersonating census workers.

"It's not beyond the criminal to forge documents," said Montville Resident State Trooper Sgt. Michael Collins. "What's a better excuse than a census worker?"

Over the last couple years, southeastern Connecticut towns - especially Montville and East Lyme - have seen a spike in burglaries. Police personnel stepped up to create neighborhood watch groups and have reported a drop in robberies because of it. The neighborhood watch groups meet regularly where police are able to update them on crime trends.

At one of their latest neighborhood watch meetings, Collins stressed the importance of being more mindful during the time the census workers are canvassing homes.

"There are people that are going to take advantage of that," Collins said.

Representatives from the Census Bureau have already notified law enforcement agencies and town officials that they will be in the area, most likely through early July. Representatives said the issue with impersonators has cropped up across the country.

So according to the Local Norwich Census Bureau, here's how it works:

In order to increase the chances of finding someone at home, census visits will often take place during late afternoons and evenings and on weekends.

Every census enumerator wears an official enumerator's badge issued by the U.S. Census Bureau. The badge will have the name on the front and the expiration date on the back. Residents are encouraged by the bureau to ask to see a worker's badge if it's not already been presented to them. Enumerators may also be carrying "U.S. Census Bureau" bags, and their vehicles will have an plaque on the dashboard.

The worker will tell the name of the survey for their reason for being there and provide a copy of the notification letter that describes the survey. The 2010 Census questionnaire is short; it contains 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete.

No census worker will ever ask to come inside the home, or stray from questions on the form, like asking for financial information or a social security number.

"If it isn't on the form, we won't ask it," said F. Ellen Whaley, manager of the Norwich census office.

The bureau suggests that residents who are concerned about a person at their door who claims to be a U.S. Census taker should ask for the name and identification badge and call the Norwich Local Census Office's Helpline at (860)367-8371.

"People are correct to be security conscious; we understand that," Whaley said. "We'll be staffed at our Norwich office and available to the public, to answer questions that arise while census enumerators are working in the field."

Law enforcement officials also stressed the importance of residents calling the police if they see anything suspicious in their neighborhood.

a.renczkowski@theday.com