Police warn that one woman’s story of a thieving magazine salesman serves as a cautionary tale.

This week Auburn Police arrested 32-year-old Joseph Won Lee Jones after he allegedly stole an Auburn woman’s check and wrote himself a payment of about $400, according to Detective Adam Cline.

Early last month, Jones, a transient from Maryland, knocked on a 71-year-old Auburn woman’s door trying to sell magazines, Cline said.

The woman let Jones inside her house and gave him a check for about $40, Cline said.

“She was trying to help him out,” Cline said. “She was feeling bad for him.”

While the woman went to get Jones a glass of water, he allegedly took a blank check from her checkbook, Cline said.

Jones cashed the check but the victim didn’t discover the theft until Feb. 25 when she checked her bank statement.

Cline said that he found Jones by calling the magazine company, World Wide Circulation.

He narrowed down the search to San Bernardino and police there served a warrant on Jones.

Jones was booked into Placer County Jail Wednesday but was released on $30,000 bail before Friday.

Jones faces charges of petty theft with priors, forgery, and special allegations of a prior felony and fraud or identity theft of an elder/dependant adult.

Police and District Attorney’s Office officials advise that all residents should be cautious of solicitors.

Salespeople should have a valid solicitation or business license through the city or county they are selling in, according to Detective Sgt. Victor Pecoraro.

“We recommend you do not invite solicitors into your home or provide any personal information other than that needed to compete the order or transaction,” Pecoraro said via press release. “In most cases this would be no more than your name and address.”

Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com.