It is clear that criminals see senior citizens as soft targets. However, just because senior citizens are vulnerable does not mean they have to be completely helpless.
Here are some crime prevention tips for our elderly.
Personal safety at home:
1. Never open your door automatically. Install and use a peephole or use a CCTV system to see who’s there if you have a solid door. Alternatively, install a chain lock that allows you to see who is at the door without it being opened all the way and preventing forced entry.
2. Lock your doors and windows. (Many burglaries involving older persons, similar to all other age groups, involved unlocked doors and windows). If you have a security door; keep it locked even whilst conversing with strangers. Keep your garage doors locked also.
3. Vary your daily routine.
4. Use “Neighbourhood Watch” to keep an eye on your neighbourhood. A concerned neighbour is often the best protection against crime, because suspicious persons and activities are noticed and reported to police promptly.
5. Don’t leave notes on the door when going out.
6. Leave lights on when going out at night. When you are gone for more than a day, make sure your home looks and sounds occupied; use a timer to turn lights on and off when you are away for an extended period.
7. Notify neighbours and the police when going away on a trip. Cancel deliveries such as newspapers and arrange for someone – a neighbour’s child, perhaps – to mow the lawn if need be. Arrange for your mail to be held by the Post Office or ask a neighbour to collect it for you.
8. Be wary of unsolicited offers to make repairs to your home. Deal only with reputable businesses. Look them up on the Internet, talk to other clients or give the company a call to establish their bona fides.
9. Keep an inventory with serial numbers and photographs of re-saleable appliances, antiques and furniture. Leave copies in a safe place.
10. Don’t hesitate to report crimes or suspicious activities.
11. Install deadbolt locks on all your doors and install window locks, where possible.
12. Keep your home well-lit at night, inside and out; keep curtains closed. Use of motion activated lighting is always useful in deterring 'would be' thieves. These can be used both inside your house or apartment as well as outside. They can provide both safety inside the residence as well as crime detection.
13. Ask for proper identification from strangers who arrive asking for donations or offering work to be done. Don’t be afraid of asking … if they are legitimate, they won’t mind.
14. If a stranger asks to use your telephone, offer to place the call for him or her yourself. Do not let them inside the house.
15. Never let a stranger into your home,
16. Do not hide your keys under the mat or in other conspicuous places. Thieves know them all.
17. Never give out information over the phone indicating you are alone or that you won’t be home at a certain time.
18. If you arrive at home and suspect a stranger may be inside, do not go in. Leave quietly and call 000 to report the crime.
Personal safety when out walking:
19. Walk purposefully and maintain situational awareness of the area and those also in the area.
20. 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 000 and report the crime as soon as possible.
21. Avoid walking alone at night. Try to have a friend accompany you in high risk areas … even during the daytime.
22. Avoid carrying weapons. They may be used against you.
23. Always plan your route and stay alert to your surroundings. Walk confidently.
24. Stay away from buildings and doorways; walk in well-lit areas.
25. Have your key ready when approaching your front door.
26. Don’t dangle your purse away from your body. (Many crimes against the elderly are handbag/ wallet snatchings and street robberies.)
27. Don’t carry large, bulky shoulder bags; carry only what you need. Better yet, sew a small pocket inside your jacket or coat. If you don’t have a handbag, no one will try to snatch it.
Personal safety while shopping:
28. Carry your handbag very close to you … don’t dangle it from your arm. Never leave it in a shopping cart. Never leave your handbag unattended.
29. Don’t carry any more cash than is necessary. Most stores accept debit or credit cards instead of cash.
30. Don’t display large sums of cash.
31. Watch out for thieves who may attempt to steal your shopping.
32. Be aware of your surroundings and those who are in your vicinity. Thieves do not like being eye-balled, as it can aid in their identification.
Protect your finances:
33. Be aware of who is close to you when using ATM’s. Keep your PIN and amount being collected private. Have a friend with you, if possible.
34. Be wary of con artists and get-rich schemes that probably are too good to be true.
35. Store valuables in a Safety Deposit Box (if available).
36. Never give your money to someone who calls on you, identifying himself as a bank official. A bank will never ask you to remove your money.
37. Banks don’t want one of their customers to invite crime by having large amounts of cash around the house. Get it into a bank account.
38. Never fall for the trick of paying fines to Police by going to the bank with them to withdraw money for the fine.
39. When someone approaches you with a get-rich-quick-scheme involving some or all of YOUR savings, it is THEIR get-rich-quick-scheme. If it is a legitimate investment, the opportunity to contribute your funds will still be there tomorrow – after you have had time to consider it.
40. If you have been swindled or conned, report the crime to your local police as soon as possible. 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.
41. When in doubt…..Protect your finances and ‘don’t commit yourself’ to anything.
Personal safety whilst in your vehicle:
42. Always keep your car doors locked, whether you are in or out of your car. Keep the fuel tank full and your engine properly maintained to avoid breakdowns.
43. If your car breaks down, pull over to the left as far as possible, raise the bonnet, return to the vehicle cabin, lock it and call for help. Wait INSIDE the car for help. Avoid getting out of the car and making yourself a target before help arrives.
44. At stop signs and traffic lights, keep the car in gear.
45. Travel well-lit and busy streets. Plan your route.
46. Don’t leave your handbag/ wallet on the seat beside you; put it on the floor, where it is more difficult for someone to grab it.
47. Lock bundles or bags in the boot. If interesting packages are out of sight, a thief will be less tempted to break in to steal them.
48. If you have an audible central locking system, ask a mechanic to disable the audible alarm part, as it can allow thieves to target you as you approach your vehicle.
49. When returning to your car, check the front and back seat before entering.
50. If possible, never bend over to place items in the vehicle as it leaves you exposed to attack. Have someone with you, if possible, to reduce the risk.
51. Never pick up hitchhikers.
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