How to Protect Against Crime as a Senior Citizen

We’re all concerned about personal safety these days. But even seniors can reduce their chances of becoming victims of crime. Although older people seem to be more frightened of crime, compared to other age groups, their risk of being victimized is low. Despite being a vulnerable population, seniors can learn to protect themselves and their personal property. All it takes is some caution and staying alert to your surroundings.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Lock all doors and windows (including garage and basement doors and any windows in an attached garage) whenever you leave the house. Place a broom handle in the track of sliding glass doors to secure them. Have your key out and ready when you return home.

2. Keep car doors locked and windows up when you are driving. Park close to where you are going, choosing an area that is well lit and busy, especially if you plan to return to your vehicle after darkness.

3. Ask a trusted neighbor to watch your home when you away. Use timers to turn lights and televisions on and off at regular intervals to give your house a lived in look. Let a neighbor park his or her vehicle in your driveway when you are out of town. Also, be sure to lower the volume on the telephone ringer.

4. Never open the door to strangers when you are at home. Install deadbolt locks and use a peephole. Ask all service and sales people for proper identification.

5. Install low-voltage and motion sensitive lighting outdoors to keep the perimeter of your home well lit. Keep trees and shrubbery near entryways trimmed back.

6. Refuse to give out personal information over the telephone to an unsolicited caller who asks for your credit card number or Social security number. Each year millions of seniors become victims of telemarketing fraud, as more than half of these calls are directed at people age 65 and older. With an aging baby boomer population, the number of potential telemarketing fraud victims is growing.

Tips & Warnings

• Report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement officials. If a telemarketing offer sounds too good to be true, it likely is a scam. Be on the alert if the caller insists that you must act now.