I was pushing a cart around my neighborhood grocery, when Bob, a long-time employee, approached, “You know how everybody talks to each other here?” he asked. “Thieves are taking advantage of our friendly atmosphere." He pointed to my purse in the child seat and said, “The thief asks which camembert cheese you like. When you turn to point, another takes your wallet out of that purse. Be careful!”
I called Sara Verschueren, my neighborhood police safety expert, to find ways to be careful in our day-to-day activities.
Referring to Bob’s grocery store warning, Sara said, “ Distraction is a common strategy.”
- Zip up purses, or snap closed. Never leave them open in the child seat.
- Buckle the child safety belt around purses.
- Keep cart next to you, not behind.
Another form of distraction theft occurs right at home. When a young man appeared at my friend Marilyn’s door, she was suspicious, but his disarming comments swept aside her wariness. “Hi, I’m Eric, remember me? Grew up down the block. I’m trimming your neighbor’s hedge and branches’ll fall into your yard. Want your O.K.”
Thinking she should remember him, she let him walk through her house to her back door. When he pressed her to follow him to the backyard, her suspicions returned and she kicked him out. She never heard his accomplice, but he had one. All her jewelry was gone.- Don’t open your door unless you know for sure who the it is.
- NOBODY enters your house, especially if you live alone or find yourself alone.
- BEWARE of emotional appeals such as Marilyn’s guilt at forgetting the “kid down the street.”
- Keep doors locked. Install double dead bolt with inside key lock. Key near door, but hidden.
Never let a workman you DID NOT REQUEST into the house, including a utility company.- If you doubt a person who says he or she is there to service something, have him/her wait outside until you call the company’s phone number.
Verschueren’s most common recent reports were phone scams. My phone rings nearly a dozen times a day with unsolicited calls — pretending a warning from Apple Support or promising to return $399 in fees to a computer maintenance company, I never hired.- Apple (be sure to check on your own service provider’s rules) never calls to report breeches of security.
- Social Security does not call with threats of legal action.
- Do not respond to emotional appeals such as a grandchild needing help.
- NEVER give out personal information on the phone.
Safeguarding Your Home Needs Layers of Protection.
- Own a dog with a growl or vicious-sounding barking – or a recording of one.
- Monitor your neighborhood. My neighbor called when he saw someone with a flashlight crossing my backyard. That time it was my houseguest crossing to the garage but I appreciate his vigilance.
- Have a well-lit outside environment including motion lights which switch on to signal someone is around.
- Keep bushes trimmed and away from the building.
- Keep doors and windows locked, ladders padlocked. Drop a thick dowel in sliding door tracks.
- Never leave tools, purses or other valuables in sight of a window.
- Explore installing a security system.
- Keep a charged cell phone near the bed. Dial 911 if you hear someone. Plan an escape system with family members. Install a bolt lock INSIDE a closet where you can hide. Keep your car key in that closet so you can set off your car alarm. Noise is a great deterrent.
Verschueren told me that we fall prey to thieves because we are not used to thinking in a defensive way. Classes such as Krav Maga teach seniors to be aware of surroundings, move along with confidence, and assess situations for potential threat. Seniors of every fitness level can learn tactics of self-defense. But, the best defense against all threats is preplanning, awareness, and understanding that it can happen to you.
Carrie Luger Slayback, award-winning teacher and champion runner, shares her health and fitness fascination with her readers. Write her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .