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You can stop crime
Q. What are the most frequent crimes against elders and what are the ways they can avoid them?
A. Avoiding crime consists of two distinct activities — protection and prevention. To be successful, we must look at crime against elders in different ways than in the past. Let’s begin by understanding that all crime which has a senior citizen as a victim is not necessarily a crime against an elder.
If you are in a car that is struck by another vehicle, whose operator is drunk and driving recklessly, your status as 72 years old had nothing to do with the act of the drunk driver. This is a criminal act that is random, not directed at any person or specific group. Because our population of elders (here in the Berkshires, as well as across the state and the nation) continues to grow, and they continue to pursue active, full lives, whether working or in recreation, it is likely that more seniors will find themselves victims of “random” crime. The strategies employed to avoid being harmed by random crimes are the same whether you are 25 or 75. Common sense and life experience tell us that you must be aware of your surroundings, use appropriate security measures for your home and property, and always be cognizant of your personal safety.
Crimes in which elders are the specific targets, or are included as part of larger group of “potential targets,” most often involve money, property, and some related activity. These include a wide variety of situations designed to separate you from your money: Letters that have official-looking form numbers, telephone calls from supposed “banks” or “government agencies,” any of which demand your account numbers, Social Security number or other personal/financial information. Protection from these crimes is best begun by preparation.
Think, now, before the phone rings, how you will handle any such call. Some folks actually prepare a brief “script” or outline of what they will say to an unknown caller. You want to remain in control of the situation. Scam callers try to confuse, intimidate and frighten you. Be ready with “excuses” to end the call. (“My kettle is whistling.” “My grandson is at the door”). Ask for their number, their name and offer to call them back. When it is over, tell someone else about the call. Call the local police, Elder Services, senior center; they cannot help if they are not informed.
Planning ahead is part of preparation. Look ahead today to avoid tomorrow’s problems. Sign up for all “Do Not Call Lists.” Less callers means not only fewer unwanted disruptions, but also less opportunity for scheming callers. Join your local senior center, Council on Aging, etc. and support their educational/informational work. Consider forming or joining a TRIAD chapter or similar group through your Council on Aging. Be part of the solution, and not just worry about the problem. It’s a worthy goal to promote and strengthen our crime prevention efforts, but we must prepare to protect, and protect to prevent.