Although surveys consistently show that persons over 65 are victims of crime far less frequently than young people, many senior citizens are so worried about crime that they shut themselves up in their homes and rarely go out. But isolating ourselves behind locked doors, not getting together with our neighbors, actually makes it easier for criminals to work in the neighborhood.
Seniors are more vulnerable to certain crimes - purse snatching, mugging, and fraud.
But you can reduce opportunities for criminals to strike by being careful, alert, and a good neighbor. If you must carry a purse, hold it close to your body. Don t dangle it. Avoid dark, deserted routes, even if they re the shortest. Whenever possible, travel with a friend to run errands.