Tips: Senior Citizen Security

  • Jan 12, 2009

According to the Department of Justice, senior citizens usually experience lower rates of crime. But when seniors are victimized, there is a 92 percent chance the crime will occur in or near their homes.

“As we age, our safety and security needs change, so it’s important to take extra precautions to keep ourselves and our senior family members safe,” said Steve Shapiro, director of product management for ADT Security Services. “Although statistics show seniors are less likely to be vulnerable to some types of crime, they are more likely than any other age group to be victims of crime in their own homes.”

To help better protect America’s seniors from property crime and personal theft, ADT has developed the following essential safety tips:

  • Never hide keys under the doormat, in the mailbox or in a planter, burglars will go straight for these typical hiding spots to look for spare keys. Spare keys should be left with a trusted neighbor.
  • If you decide to install an alarm system, consider one that is monitored for burglary, fire, carbon monoxide and medical emergencies. These alarm system features can be life-saving if you, or a loved one, become incapacitated while in the home.
  • Install and use good locks on doors and windows. Good locks are the first line of defense against home invasion -- it is also important to make sure your locks are in working order.
  • Never give credit card, Social Security, phone card or bank account numbers to callers who ask for this information to “verify” prizes. If they have to ask for this personal information, it is a sure sign they are fakes -- never give personal data over the phone, unless you know who you are dealing with.
  • Recently there have been cases of seniors being targeted to send cash to someone posing as a grandchild. If you receive a call like this, you should always call the child’s parents for verification, even if they say they do not want their parents to know.
  • When service or delivery people come to your door, ask for ID and check with their company if you are still unsure. When in doubt, research the company by calling police or the Better Business Bureau. Reputable companies will have no problem with your request for more information.

Most importantly, Shapiro wants everyone to remember, “Thinking about home security should be a top priority, especially as we grow older and live longer.”

Featured

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

  • Why the Future of Video Security Is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reasons. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. Read Now

  • UL Solutions Launches Artificial Intelligence Safety Certification Services

    UL Solutions Inc., a global leader in safety science, today announced the launch of artificial intelligence (AI) safety certification services, enabling comprehensive assessments for evaluating the safety of AI-powered products. Read Now

  • ESA Announces Initiative to Introduce the SECURE Act in State Legislatures

    The Electronic Security Association (ESA), the national voice for the electronic security and life safety industry, has announced plans to introduce the SECURE Act in state legislatures across the country beginning in 2025. The proposal, known as Safeguarding Election Candidates Using Reasonable Expenditures, provides a clear framework that allows candidates and elected officials to use campaign funds for professional security services. Read Now

    • Guard Services
Most   Popular

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.