Historical February 1990 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Who do you think is the most likely to be a victim of crime? Who do you think is the least likely to be a victim of crime? Understanding the who, what and where of victimization can not only help protect you against crime, it can also help reduce your fear of crime.
The most likely persons to be victims of crime are young males.
The least likely to be victims of crime are senior citizens!
If you didn’t know that, then maybe there’s a hole in the information. So, let’s try to fill it.
Look around you.
Most of the crimes that victimize us occur when we’ve given someone the opportunity to victimize us.
When there are few people around to hear or see criminal activity that is an opportunity. Examples of that are 1) streets that are vacant during the day when people leave for work and school. Peak hours for burglary are from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and occur most often to back or basement doors; 2) waiting for a ride, using a night time automated bank teller, parking on a huge parking lot, all away from lights and activity; 3) the wee hours of the night when thieves find easy prey of GM cars parked on the street without any visible theft deterrent. Homemakers and retired people home during the day can be extremely helpful reporting strangers in the neighborhood with an accurate description called in to 911.
If the fellow cutting through the yards or scavaging aluminum from the dumpsters is legitimate, he will only be inconvenienced for a moment.
A great way to begin the new year will be WITH your car still in your possession.
Please consider a collar placed permanently on the steering column, or an alarm.
There is another warning.
An exception. Senior citizens are most likely to be victims of purse snatching and fraud.
It might do all purse danglers well to carry only what you need, and maybe not carry a purse at all. Be smart. Stay alert. Report it if it doesn’t seem “right” to you.
We want to keep you safe. Call Operation Safestreet at 622-3444.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February 1990.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1990_02.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
