Elderly have another thing to worry about

You're getting up in years.  Your hearing and eyesight aren't what they use to be.  Your health is starting to decline, and now you have one more thing to worry about.  What might that be? 

Police in Chicago's south suburbs of DuPage County recently arrested a couple that targeted seniors for home break-ins. 

Mark Stanko, 26, and Tracy Denell, 28, have been charged with home invasion, armed robbery and residential burglary in a home invasion in DuPage County near Willowbrook on Nov. 2, authorities said.

How did they know where to find them? 

If you make furniture deliveries, as Mark Stanko did, you are in a good position to learn about the homes you are delivering furniture to and the people who live there.  

What would he look for, and how easy would it be to gather information?

1) Does the home have an alarm?

2) How old is the owner or owners and do they live alone?

3) Do they have a dog?

4) Are there any neighbors nearby who might hear him breaking in?

5) He could check the door and windows looking for an easy way in.

6) He would probably be able to check out the back entrance as well, by suggesting that it might be easier to bring in the furniture that way.

7) If he were delivering bedroom furniture he would have a chance to look around for jewelry, or at least possible places where the owner might hide such valuables. 

8) He would have plenty of opportunity to look for other items such as TV's, laptop computers, and the like.

9) It certainly would make a robbery a lot faster and easier if you knew the layout of the home before hand.

10) He would be able to determine the best route out of the area after he had finished robbing the place.

The elderly are in the cross hairs of predators looking for an opportunity to take advantage of them.  Seniors are targeted by criminals when out on the street, and now they have to worry about whether the deliveryman is casing the place for a future robbery.

In addition to the sheer terror caused by having someone break into their homes, what made these robberies so dangerous was the use of pepper spray/mace on the elderly owners of the homes that were robbed. 

Pepper spray/mace may be safe for use against most people, but what about the elderly citizens who may be dealing with a host of medical problems?

What can you do to keep you and your family members safe from this type of crime?

1) When having deliveries made or work done inside your house attempt to limit the workers access to other parts of your home.

2) Don't give out personal information.  Sometimes workers are just trying to be friendly, but why take chances?

3) If you live alone try to have a neighbor or family member drop by during the time the work or delivery is scheduled.

4) Don't leave cash or valuables laying out where they might be seen. 

5) If you live alone consider getting an alarm system installed, or at least put a lock on your bedroom door. 

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