They may not be able to read or understand the terms of a fraudulent contract. They have slower reaction times and may not have the physical ability to defend themselves or their property if attacked. They may live in central cities that are generally high crime areas with less than adequate police protection, and, as their neighborhoods change, they may become removed from the mainstream. They may have to rely on public transportation that may take them through areas that they would otherwise avoid. Often no one is present to protect the elder's home or property while he or she is away, even for a short period.
Many older people pursue daily activities such as grocery buying and check cashing with regularity.
High Risk Groups within the Elderly Elderly males typically are at greater risk for violent crime as a whole and for robbery than are elderly females. Elderly females typically are at greater risk for personal larceny with contact, as in purse snatching, than are elderly males.