Older people living in their own homes can be at risk from burglars and rogue traders trying to exploit their vulnerability.
Care workers play an important role in increasing the security and confidence of older people
by giving them support and advice.
But a lot of older people don’t see people if they’re homebound, they often don’t speak to anybody from days on end.
They become very insular, very isolated
and if somebody knocks on the door and shows a kindly word, an interest in them and a genuine concern
then they will welcome them in because it’s somebody to talk to.
Distraction Burglaries in which intruders invent stories to get into the home are often targeted at those in later life.
It’s a bit like the Trojan horse; if you can get the occupier to invite you in
and lower the drawbridge then it’s so much easier for these burglars to get in to steal.
Marilyn Preston and Pauline Morgan from Leicester were both robbed in their own homes
during a spate of burglaries over Christmas.
They said “Well I’ve come to see your neighbour next door, that one, that side you see”
and he said “I’ve come to see her, she’s expecting me” but he said “she’s not in”
but I said well being as you know Keeley then I said “do you want to come in and wait then”, “oh could I”, he said
and he stood there, because it was really cold on New Year’s Day, so I took pity on him really.
Well I was sat there and we were talking all right and saying how cold it was and that and he were rubbing his hands
and I asked him if he were going to take his gloves off but he said no because his hands were so cold.
So I offered to go and make a cup of tea.
Once in her home, the burglar stole Marilyn’s pension money whilst she was making him a cup of tea.
And then I thought well that’s funny when I come in I seen the sideboard door was open three quarters,
he took me money out, £150.
At Pauline’s house, the intruder asked to use the toilet.
My purse was at the side of the bed and he must have whipped the purse, come out,
flushed the toilet but he hadn’t used it, he obviously did that to make me think he had and come downstairs.
But it was all happening in less than half a minute I would say, he was quick.
I could have passed out I was shaking, I really was shaking and when Keeley came round from next door I said,
well I think she came straight round, and I’d rang the police
and I’d got them and I said can you speak to them I couldn’t speak, I was too shaken to speak to them.
For many victims the impact of these crimes can be devastating.
The shock will kick in, it can end in an illness, the health of a victim of distraction burglary does tend to decline
after they’ve become a victim.
So, the care workers really do hold quite a vital role in the fight against distraction burglary
because they are the eyes and ears of the potential victim.
Care workers like Sue Wright play a key role in helping older people protect themselves from potential burglars.
- Good morning Sylvia. - Morning.
- It’s Sue, the home care. - Morning Sue.
Although Sue is on her daily visit to recently widowed Sylvia Vines,
she always reminds Sylvia who she is at the front door.
- There you are. - Thank you Sue.
You had your safety chain on this morning when you let me in;
well you’re remembering to do it now aren’t you? - I am remembering to do it, yes, yes.
- Right but you can’t be too careful can you? - You can’t.
You know so long as you remember to ask for ID if anybody does come to the door.
It’s a hard thing to have to learn that you can’t trust anybody. But you can’t.
You get all these bogus callers and cold callers as well.
- I’m learning. - You are, aren’t you?
- Okay then Sylvia. - About usual time?
- Yes, it will be. See you tomorrow then. - See you tomorrow then. Bye.
My husband always locked up and made sure that things were safe and that
so it’s something I’ve had to get used to and you do feel vulnerable on your own.
She is vulnerable at the minute but I think she understands from ... And we keep reminding her of all this security
and she will respond and she will remember to do it now.
So, but we will carry on reminding her, which is part of our job.
Another serious home security issue facing those in later life is rogue traders,
who carry out bogus work and charge exorbitant fees.
Sean Davis from Croydon was tricked by a rogue trader into buying a new roof
whilst recovering from a brain operation that left him feeling confused.
- This is the back of the house Bryan. - Yes.
He’s being visited by money advisor, Bryan Calvert.
So this is the extension, the roof that they replaced that didn’t actually need replacing at all, is that right?
It didn’t really need replacing.
Security is a big thing nowadays and rogue traders, they will do anything to get money out of vulnerable people
and the chances are they were watching his house, so I just feel that it’s important now to be safe and secure.
They might never come back again and then again they may say he was easy work so let’s go back and get him again.
You know I wasn’t thinking straight, I was letting something happen that shouldn’t happen.
- Well yes you ended up losing all your savings didn’t you? - Everything I had.
- And borrowing more as well. - And I had to borrow more.
- It grew to £26,000. - Awful situation.
Well I mean what we’ll do we’ll try and resolve the financial issue, part of it for you
and if we can’t get it written off then maybe we’ll get the monthly payments at least reduced right down to a more affordable rate.
As for anything else I mean for example, do you have a chain on your door?
- Well no I don’t actually. - Well have it fitted
- and always, always open the door with the chain on. - Yes.
Always ask for ID, if someone hands you ID, make sure you don’t just ring the telephone number that’s on that ID
because that could be a made up telephone number.
Never make a rash decision on the doorstep,
if you are considering it always say I’ll think about it.
Age UK has been organising events to highlight home security issues.
Here in Croydon, the key message for no time for crime is to use effective door and window locks
and to take care when answering calls from strangers.
Well we never used to have to have chains and things years ago, our back door was always open,
our windows were left open and that’s the difference today, you just have to secure everything.
What we want them to do is to be empowered in their own home
with the advice and educational knowledge, self-confidence if you like and
knowing that they can actually deal with these people and knowing where to report their suspicions and fears to
and obviously that would be a combination of trading standards or police.
I look through the windows first at who it is
and ask them what they want.
It’s a message that can really make a difference.
Hello Mr. Fag.
This afternoon, care worker Julie Harris is on one of her regular visits
to 90 year old William Fag.
William cares for his wife who is suffering from Dementia. Julie has some specific safety advice.
If you don’t recognise somebody you’ve got a designated neighbour and what this does really
it’s saying I don’t want to enter into this at all. If they are genuine they will go
and knock on that door and they will bring that person with them, so that way you know
you’re not vulnerable and you’re not on your own. Which neighbours do you think would be ...?
Not next door the old lady, it’s the one next door to that, that would be Peter and Reeny.
- And they would be the sort of people that would cope with this. - They are very nice, we are very friendly with them.
You know you’re probably way ahead of a lot of people when it comes to this.
- Eventually it just becomes routine. - It does.
You don’t have to try and think about what do I do next, right it’s there.
People still need to be equipped with the feeling of knowing what to do in situations
and reassuring them that these things don’t happen all the time,
it’s just making them a bit aware and making sure that their house is secure
more than anything. But without frightening them, I think that is very important.
- Bye. - Bye.