CRIME PREVENTION FOR SENIORS
Crime prevention is everyone’s responsibility, not
just a job for Law Enforcement. Seniors can learn how to
protect themselves from crime by following these simple,
common-sense suggestions. Share these tips with your neighbors
and friends, too, and make it tough for criminals to work
in your neighborhood.
At home...
• Always keep your doors and windows
locked. Install dead-bolt locks on all doors.
• Keep your home well lit at night, inside
and out, and keep your curtains closed at night.
• Install a peephole in your front door
so you can see callers without opening the door.
• Ask for proper identification from
delivery men or strangers. Don’t be afraid of asking
if they are legitimate they won't mind.
• Never give your credit card, phone card, social security,
or bank account number to anyone over the phone unless you've
placed the call.
• If a stranger asks to use your telephone,
offer to place the call for him/her yourself. Never let
a stranger into your home.
• Do not leave notes on your door when
you are gone, and do not hide your keys under the mat or
in other conspicuous places.
• Never give out information over the
phone indicating you are alone or that you won’t be
home at a certain time.
• When you are gone for more than a day,
make sure your home looks and sounds occupied —use
automatic timers to turn on lights and a radio or television.
Cancel your mail and newspaper deliveries.
While you’re out...
• Carry your purse very close to you
— don’t dangle it from your arm. Also, never leave
your purse in a shopping cart.
• Don’t carry more cash than is
necessary. Many grocery stores now accept checks and automatic
teller cards instead of cash..
• Avoid walking alone at night. Try to
have a friend accompany you in high risk areas — even
during the daytime.
• Do not carry weapons — they may
be used against you.
• Have your paychecks or government checks
sent directly to your bank account — many banks have
senior citizens discounts.
• Never withdraw money from your bank
accounts for anyone except YOURSELF. Be wary of con artists
and get-rich schemes that probably are too-good-to-be-true.
In your car...
• Keep your gas tank full and your engine
properly maintained to avoid breakdowns.
• Always lock your car doors, even when
you’re inside and keep your windows rolled up. Driving
with the windows closed also improves gas mileage.
• Lock packages and other valuables in
the trunk. Do not leave them on the back seat or on the
floor of the car where potential thieves can see them.
• When you return to your car, always check the front
and back seat before you get in.
• Never pick up hitchhikers.
• If your car breaks down, pull over
to the right as far as possible, raise the hood, and wait
inside the car for help. Do not get out of the car or roll
down the window until the police arrive.
If
you are a victim at
home...
• If you arrive at home and suspect a
stranger may be inside, DON’T GO IN.
Leave quietly and call 911 to report the crime.
• If you are attacked on the street,
make as much noise as possible by calling for help or blowing
a whistle. Do not pursue your attacker. Call 911 and report
the crime as soon as possible.
• If you have been swindled or conned,
report the crime to your local police or district attorney’s
office. Con artists count on their victim’s reluctance
to admit they’ve been duped, but if you delay, you
help them get away. Remember, if you never report the crime,
they are free to cheat others again and again and you have
no chance of ever getting your money back.
What you can do to help:
• Work to change conditions that hurt
your neighborhood — Volunteer as a citizen patroller,
tutor for children, office aide in the police or fire department,
mentor for teens, or escort for individuals with disabilities.
• Contact your local American Association
of Retired Persons (AARP) for more information on how to
get involved in other community programs.
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