A topic I frequently address in the scope of my job as a police officer, is the vulnerability of the elderly. While you might not think the subject applies to you now, it will someday. Let’s face it – like it or not, we all get old.
Here is a scam frequently used to take advantage of our senior citizens.
DISTRACTION BURGLARIES: Usually this scam involves two or more people. One person will go to the door of a senior citizen and use a ruse to have the elderly person let them into their home. Often this scam will have the crook dressing in some type of uniform or carrying a clipboard and requesting to go to the rear yard to conduct some kind of test, or take some measurements. They may even have a tape measure with them or wear a hardhat to look more official.
When the senior lets the ‘workman’ (or woman) into their home, the crook unlocks the front door and then leads the elderly person (the victim) to the rear yard while an accomplice quickly goes through the house taking small items such as money, jewelry, cash, checks and credit cards.
This is one form of a distraction burglary. Another version is where a mother and child, or in some cases just a child, comes to the door wanting the victim to let them in the rear yard to look for a ball or kitten. Our senior citizens can’t imagine that a mother and child would be up to no good and let them into the house. Again, one party distracts the senior, while another goes through the house and takes items of value. As soon as the thief is done in the house, both parties leave and the poor senior might not realize for a day or two they’ve been burglarized.
There are other variations of a distraction burglary, but these are the two most common. Remember: If someone comes to your door and you’re not expecting them, be on your guard. If they want in your house, red flags should go off in your head. Don’t take what anyone tells you at face value. If they say they are from the water company or the phone company or any place of business, ask questions. Get a phone number where you can call and verify these people are conducting legitimate business.
In the case of someone wanting to take measurements, have them meet you at a side gate and let them in that way. If they need to find a ball or cat in the back yard, offer to go find the ball or cat yourself. Be sure, before you leave your home, all your doors are locked.
The elderly are susceptible to thieves for several reasons – mostly because often they aren’t good witnesses. Often they don’t remember hair color, or height. They can’t remember if the suspect had a car or if he/she had tattoos.
Another reason they’re targeted is because they may not realize for a very long time they’ve been victimized…or if they do, they are ashamed to tell anyone.
If you have a senior in your life or in your neighborhood, it’s the right thing to do to be extra vigilant in watching out for their wellbeing. If you see someone hanging around an elder’s house and it seems unusual, go over in a friendly way and see what’s going on. It might be Uncle Elmo visiting from Kansas, or it might be something more sinister – something you can easily determine by asking a few questions.
Unfortunately, we all get old, and even more unfortunately, there are criminals who will be seeking us out to victimize.
Until next time,
KMA 367
Thanks for the warning! I’ll be such a target when I’m older. Wait – I could be now! I don’t know how to think like a criminal. None of this would ever occur to me. I don’t suspect everyone I meet of being up to no-good either.Oh well. Hopefully I will have a keeper when I’m really old. For now I’ll just have to be on my guard!
Dolores
Hi Dolores!
Ha! My family teases me that I’m paranoid, but these types of things happen every day – at least here in the big city. The key is educating the public, which is what I do at work, and fairly often here on my website.
Crooks have gotten more sophisticated, MUCH more daring, and have very little, if at all, any remorse for their actions. They feel the victims (not just elderly ones) are stupid for allowing themselves to get victimized.
Thanks for the information Kathy! I am going to share it with my mom and her friends.
I cannot decide if it is good or bad, but I know that I’ll be aging into an old crumudgeon. I’ll be the type of person who will have spiny plants under walls in my back yard and near my windows, a big dog, and too bad for your ball or kitten little kid. I’m not good with authority now and refuse to open my door to anyone unless I know them. If they insist, then I call the utility company, police or fire department… if I haven’t called for you, what are you doing at my house?
My friends all laugh but already I make myself drive different routes to work and home from work. On an intellectual level I know that I am not being stalked, but let’s just say that the writer’s imagination is not always kind to the writer.
And now I have to worry about women and children, too!
One does not have to be elderly to have the criminal come to his/her door. In one scheme the burglar targets people working in their front yard. A woman in her late 60′s claims to be a cleaning lady who does not have the address of her employer. She asks to come into your home to use the phone. When you offer to use your cell phone that you carry with you, she takes off.
Another one is a teenager who claims he’s been attacked. When you offer to call the police, he too disappears. These stories are in “Another Thursday’s Child”.
Elaine Sandra Abramson
Thursday’s Child
The Searcher
Susan Goodwin-Earl Appraiser/Detective novels.
Creative Entrepreneur business and legal workshops for authors and artists
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URL: ElaineAbramson.com
Ah Maria, you’re not a crumudgeon. You’re ahead of your time…already using your head. You’ve got it exactly right. If you didn’t invite this person to come to your house – what are they doing there? Before anyone opens the door to their house, this is a question they should be asking themselves.
I think it’s great you’re taking a different route to and from work. You’d be surprised when we have to close down a street due to a major accident or possible explosive device how often people will say, ‘I have to get home.’ When we tell them they’ll have to take a different route, they’ve no clue how to get to their home…other than they way they’ve been going for years!
Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Elaine!
Nope, you don’t have to be elderly to be a victim. However, the criminal element has learned the elderly are vulnerable. So often, they are left alone for days, weeks, or months. Most elderly are thrilled to see someone come to their door and are willing to talk. It’s very easy for a crook to talk their way into a house and clean out the person before they know what’s happened.
Of course, this can happen to younger people was well.
Thanks for commenting. Hope to see you again!
Hi, Kathy, late to the party, but this is great advice. Thanks for keeping us in the know. As for you, be safe out there!