Unfortunately, sometimes it feels as though senior citizens are living in a jungle, where they are preyed upon by persons who realize that seniors usually have a few dollars or possessions that they would like to have. These predators engage in crimes of opportunity. Seniors can reduce their chances of being victims by following a few tips to make their situation less of an opportunity.
(I have gathered some of these tips from information provided by the Maryland Community Crime Prevention Institute (1-800-303-8802), the Montgomery County Maryland Department of Police (301-279-8000) and from other sources.)
Leaving your home:
Lock all doors and windows.
Turn on your alarm system, if you have one.
Leave a light on.
Make sure you have your keys.
Leave unneeded credit cards at home.
Do not carry large amounts of cash.
Keep your wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket.
Keep your purse close to your body, tucked under your arm, not hanging by straps.
Out walking:
Try to walk with friends or family members.. not alone.
Walk in well-lighted areas.
Walk in areas that you are familiar with.
Try to walk with a purposeful stride, not timidly.
Avoid questionable areas. If someone or something makes you uneasy, trust your instincts and leave the area.
Using public transportation:
Sit close to the driver, or near the exit, when riding on a bus, train or subway.
Lock the door when in a taxi.
Exit transportation only in a well-lighted area.
Driving your car:
Use your seat belt, even for a short ride.
Lock all doors and windows when in your car.
Keep your vehicle registration in your wallet or purse, rather than in the vehicle.
Keep a charged cell phone in your car. There are free cell phones that can be used to dial 911 in case of an emergency.
Try not to make left turns. Sometimes, a series of right turns can serve the same purpose. (Statistics that I have seen, show that making left turns is a major cause of accidents by senior citizens.)
Parking your car:
Park in a well-lit and populated area. On the street, try to park under a street light.
Try to park near the entrance of parking garages, preferably within sight of a guard station.
Do not leave electronic devices, including GPS systems, visible. Lock them in your trunk.
Remove all other valuable material from the car and lock them in the trunk.
Lock all of your doors and make sure your windows are up. Take the keys with you.
If you have one, activate the visible vehicle anti-theft device that locks your steering wheel.
If you have one, activate your vehicle alarm system.
If someone is sitting in the car parked next to you, consider writing that license number just in case.
It is very important that you write down your parking location so you do not forget it.
Returning to your car:
Carry your keys in you hand, so you do not have to spend time rummaging through pockets or a purse to find them.
From a distance, try to look under your car to see if someone has hidden there.
Once in your car, lock the doors right away.
If confronted by an armed carjacker, don't resist.
......... Be careful! .............
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
