Careline has been shocked this week to find that an elderly man living in a village close to Preston was punched and robbed in a scam that involved a man posing at a police officer. Scams such as these seem to be on the rise, with the elderly being targeted by the criminals.
The report on the ITV News website mentioned how the 73-year-old man in Higher Walton heard a knock at the door and asked the individual on the other side to identify himself. The individual said that he was a police officer but when the elderly man opened the door he was pushed out of the way, punched in the face and then had his wallet taken from his pocket.
The man then forced the victim in the bathroom, locking the door, before stealing his house keys and car keys. The offender then drove away in the elderly man’s car.
Following this horrific incident, we would like to give some advice to the elderly so that they can remain safe in their home and also show how having a personal alarm system in your home could help boost your confidence and safety.
Add security to your door
There are plenty of security devices that you can add to your door in order to remain safe. The most obvious and classic option would be to add a door chain. A door chain allows you to open your door a tiny bit without actually having to give access to the individual on the other side.
This way you can see who is there and you only have to open the door to them if you feel comfortable to do so – or if it is a friend or family member. There are plenty of chains on offer now, with some options being stronger than others.
Another security device for your door would be the door viewer. This built in device allows you to look through a peephole styled section of your door which will reveal who is on the other side. They have been designed with a wide-angle lens so that you can see down the street, in your garden or down the corridor depending on where you live.
If they don’t look genuine or if you don’t recognise the person on the other side then simply don’t answer or don’t even respond if you are really concerned.
Ask for ID
If somebody says that they are a from the emergency services or from any company then they should be carrying official ID with them. Preferably with a chain or other security device on your door, you should ask the individual at your door to show some proof that they are who they say they are before opening your door to them.
If they don’t have any ID then simply say that you are not interested and end the conversation. This may seem like a rude thing to do but it could end up ensuring that you remain safe and do not have to go through an experience like the elderly man in this recent incident had to.
A genuine person would appreciate that if they don’t carry ID with them when knocking on an elderly person’s door, they more than likely will not be welcomed in.
Don’t Answer
The easiest way to avoid a situation such as the one in Preston is to ignore the knock at the door if you are not expecting anybody. Careline believes that the person will become bored of waiting and wouldn’t want to look suspicious so would leave the property.
If the person keeps knocking then you should contact your family or friends and ask them to pop over to your home. Alternatively, if you live in an area where there have been reports of fraudsters and thieves then you should contact the police immediately.
Purchase a Personal Alarm
Our personal alarm systems are an excellent way of calling for help if you have a fall or feel unwell, but they could also be useful in a situation such as this. With our system, you wear a MyAmie pendant around your neck or wrist and are covered by our 24/7 Care Team all year round.
If you are concerned about somebody knocking on your door and you feel unsafe then all you need to do is to press the red button on your pendant. This will send an alert message to the Care Team, who will proceed to speak to you over the alarm’s loudspeaker before trying to get hold of your chosen emergency contacts.
Emergency contacts are usually made up of family members, friends or neighbours. The Care Team will notify them of the situation and ask that they visit your home immediately. The emergency services will also be contacted on your behalf by the Care Team.
Our mission here at Careline is to help as many people as possible to live safely and to enjoy their elder years. We hope that by having our alarms in your home you can increase your self-confidence and feel 100% safe in your own house.
You can order a personal alarm either through this website or by giving our sales team a call on 0800 101 333 today.
*The full news story can be found on the ITV News website. Lancashire Police have said that anybody with information should contact them on 101, quoting the incident reference number 1628 of March 29. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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