A Personal Guide To Living Safer

The threat of crime worries people of all ages. Older people, with their broader base of experience, can find themselves especially concerned, even fearful, about becoming crime victims. They know that burglaries, robberies, auto thefts, and assaults do happen, and they know the physical, psychological, and financial damage crime can bring. There is good news. Much crime can be prevented; common sense and experience, coupled with some safety tips, can help you avoid being held captive by your concern about crime.

Signed McGruff^®

The McGruff^® "Safer Seniors Kit" includes:

Emergency Medical Reference Card
Credit Card Record and Credit Card Safety Quiz
Car Security Tips
Vehicle Information Card
Vacation Information To Leave With Your Neighbor And Tips For A Safe Trip

For a complete listing of the McGruff^® licensed products, go to the Catalog page.

Home Safety
Be Safe At Home:

Ask police to conduct a free home security survey to help you identify areas that may need special attention
Make sure all entry doors are solid wood (not hollow-core) or metal wherever possible; install sturdy deadbolt locks, use them
Be sure all entrances are well lighted
Make sure windows on ground levels are secured with appropriate locks
Be sure doors have wide-angle viewers (peepholes) placed conveniently for everyone in the household; some viewers magnify the image, helpful to those with vision impairments
Trim trees and shrubs so that crooks cannot use them for cover; consider hiring a teen from the neighborhood to help
Stow ladder, mowers, garden tools, and the like when you are not using them
Mark valuables in the house with the ID number recommended by your police; display a decal that warns burglars that you have done so
Keep valuables out of easy view; purses, wallets, holiday gifts, etc. should not be readily visible from the door or the street
Someone at the door? Use your viewer and do not unlock the door unless you know and welcome the visitor or you have made a positive identification by calling the employer yourself
Concerned about strangers in your home, even from reliable repair companies? Ask a friend to come by and visit with you while the work is being done
Beware of swindlers who try to sell you "driveway repairs" or "roof work" because they were just driving through the neighborhood; keep them out of your house and out of your wallet
Keep emergency numbers right next to every telephone; list your address in case a friend needs to call for you in an emergency
Do not advertise vacation plans or out-of-home social gatherings in advance; burglars look for such clues
Tell a trusted neighbor or two if you will be away overnight or longer; ask them to watch your home for suspicious activity and offer to return the favor

Personal Safety
Walk The Walk

Walk with confidence and an assertive attitude; be aware of your surroundings at all times
Carry purse or other valuables snugly, secured on your person; wallets should be in an inside coat pocket or front pants pocket
Carry only the cash and credit cards you need for a shopping trip; make sure you have an up-to-date list of the account numbers and loss notification numbers at home
Insist the clerks give you carbon papers of credit card sales or tear them up in your presence; make sure the clerk has made only one impression of your card and save the receipts, check them against your bill each month
On public transportation, stay near the driver or other operator; get off at a busy stop, if possible
Walk or run errands with a friend; its more fun and safer
Never give out a credit card number (or social security number) to anyone who has called you; if you call a reputable merchant to purchase by phone, keep a written record of what you ordered, what the prices were, and how you paid
You cannot be required to pay a fee if you have "won" a prize in a contest; tell the caller he or she is breaking the law and hang up
Beware of people with stock tips, "sure thing" investment opportunities, and similar "secret" ways to make you rich, only people getting rich is the crook
If someone mails you unsolicited merchandise you have the right to keep it without paying for it
Beware of high-pressure sales tactics, whether door-to-door or via telephone; you have the right to demand all information in writing and to insist on having time to read it (and show it to a friend or family member

Auto Safety
Car Safety Checklist
Be Safe On The Road

Keep your car well-maintained and your gas tank at least half-full at all times
Always keep your car locked, whether you are in or out of it
Stow packages and valuables in the trunk, not in plain view; keep mail and other items with your name and address out of sight
Get you keys out before you get to your car; check around the vehicle and inside for anyone hiding. If you see people "hanging around" or if it feels wrong, go back to a safe place and call for help
If you ever think you are being followed, or if you are ever "bumped" by another driver under suspicious circumstances, head for a lighted, busy area (24-hour convenience store or gas station, or police or fire station that is staffed around the clock); do not go home
If your car breaks down, get as far off the roadway as possible; raise the hood, tie a cloth to the door handle or display a "call police" sign in the rear window and lock yourself in the car. If someone offers to help, ask them to call the police for you; consider having a cellular phone for summoning emergency help

McGruff^® Safe Kids Identification Kit, P.O. Box 931, Wayzata, MN 55391
E-Mail: info@mcgruff-safe-kids.com
Phone: 1.800.288.3344, Fax: 952.473.7123
Boerner, Inc. is an official licensee of the National Crime Prevention Council.
McGruff^®, Scruff^®, and "TAKE A BITE OUT OF CRIME" are registered trademarks of the National Crime Prevention Council. Boerner, Inc. has the right to distribute other McGruff^®, and Scruff^®, licensed educational products from other licensees.
Copyright ©2006 Boerner, Inc.
All rights reserved.