Senior Citizen Safety

Basic Safety Tips

The Parker Police Department would like to remind senior citizens of the following basic safety tips to avoid becoming a victim of a crime:

• Be Alert When Out and About
  • Carry your purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket.
  • Don't carry credit cards you don't need or large amounts of cash.
  • Go with friends or family, not alone.
  • If someone or something makes you uneasy, trust your instincts and leave.
  • Sit close to the driver or near the exit while riding the bus, train or subway.
  • Use direct deposit for Social Security and other regular checks.
  • Whether you're a passenger or driver, keep car doors locked. Be particularly alert in parking lots and garages. Park near an entrance.
• Make Your Home Safe and Secure
  • Ask for photo identification from service or delivery people before letting them in. If you are the least bit worried, call the company to verify.
  • Be sure your street address number is large, clear of obstruction and well lit so police and other emergency personnel can find your home quickly.
  • Consider a home alarm system that provides emergency monitoring for burglary, fire and medical emergencies.
  • Install good locks on doors and windows. Use them! Don't hide keys in mailboxes and planters or under doormats. Instead, leave an extra set of keys with a neighbor or friend.
• Watch Out for Con Artists
  • Beware of individuals claiming to represent companies, consumer organizations or government agencies that offer to recover lost money from fraudulent telemarketers for a fee.
  • Don't fall for anything that sounds too good to be true - a free vacation; sweepstakes prizes; cures for cancer and arthritis; a low-risk, high-yield investment scheme.
  • Don't let anyone rush you into signing anything - an insurance policy, a sales agreement, a contract. Read it carefully and have someone you trust check it over.
  • If you're suspicious, check it out with the police, the Better Business Bureau or your local consumer protection office. You can also call the National Consumers League Fraud Information Center at 800.876.7060.
  • Never give your credit card, phone card, Social Security or bank account number to anyone over the phone. It's illegal for telemarketers to ask for these numbers to verify a prize or gift.
• Get Involved in the Community
  • Join a Neighborhood Watch to help and look out for each other.
  • Report any crime or suspicious activities to law enforcement.
  • Work to change conditions that hurt your neighborhood. Volunteer as a citizen patroller, tutor for children, aide in the police or fire department, mentor for teens or escort for individuals with disabilities.
• Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
  • Do not give out personal information over the phone, through the mail or over the internet unless you have initiated the contact or know with whom you are dealing.
  • Do not put your credit card number on the internet unless it is encrypted on a secured site.
  • Do not use your mother's maiden name, birth date or last four digits of your social security number when creating a password.
  • Do not write your social security number on checks or give it out to businesses.
  • If you order a new credit card, make sure it arrives within the appropriate time. Cancel all credit cards you have not used in the last 6 months.
  • Never carry your social security card, birth certificate or passport unless necessary.
  • Order your credit report at least twice a year. Correct all mistakes with the credit bureau.
  • Shred discarded documents such as bank statements, pre-approved credit card offers and insurance forms that contain financial information.
• Mandatory Reporting of At-Risk Elder Abuse, Caretaker Neglect and Exploitation A downloadable PowerPoint presentation.