A small band of criminals deliberately target older and disabled people
These folk are those least able to defend themselves
Once selected, a victim is robbed, sometimes in a brutal way
The criminals will return repeatedly to rob the same person
There may be a pretence of doing some sort of 'work'
The victim's details may be 'sold on' to other criminals
Why do the victims fail to report the crime ?
- Because they value their independence more than anything
else.
What can we do to prevent this ?
- We can pay attention to them
- We can visit them
- We can fetch some shopping for them
- We can tidy their garden to stop the air of neglect
- We can note the presence of workmen. Are they genuine
?
- We ask their carer to tell them how to answer the
doorbell safely.
- Provide a notice directing every caller to a neighbour's
house. If the caller appears genuine, the neighbour will accompany
the caller back to the protected person's house and observe the discussion.
