This month - How we can all help to protect older people from Distraction Burglary  ...

Inspector Stephen Fairbrother is the Crime Reduction Officer for Derbyshire Constabulary.

This month I want to talk to you about a particularly nasty type of burglary.  In some areas, it’s known as ‘distraction burglary’, in others, ‘burglary artifice’, elsewhere ‘bogus official burglary’.  All these terms refer to villains conning their way in to homes to steal.

This crime is targeted at vulnerable people, usually the elderly.  Offenders pose as being from the utility companies or offering roofing repairs or other such pretext to get invited into the victim’s home.  Once inside they may employ some ruse, like getting the householder to turn the water on and off whilst they (the offender) ‘check out the pipes in the bathroom’.  In reality, they are searching the home for the victim’s cash and valuables.  Often there will be more than one offender, with one keeping the victim engaged whilst the other searches the house.  Another method is for a youngster to claim they have lost a ball in the garden.  Whilst the victim helps them search, an accomplice slips in the house and steals.  The average age of a distraction burglary victim is 81years, most often female and living alone.

Why are the elderly particularly vulnerable?

Firstly, people of such age were brought up in times when society seemed much safer.  People often did not lock their doors, everyone was respectful of their elders, the caller at the door would be who they said they were and older people were used to dealing in cash.  They would have been paid in cash and often traded on the doorstep, again in cash.  So, the elderly will often be too trusting. They are good mannered and tend to automatically invite a caller into their home.

Another reason is that all too often the elderly are isolated and lonely, so they welcome a caller.  It might be the only person they talk to that day.  Many elderly people will respond unquestioningly to a person they perceive to be in authority.

A major factor in making them a target is that the elderly will often not trust banks, preferring to keep their cash in the house. 

How big is the problem?

In 1999, 16,500 crimes were reported in England and Wales.  However there is massive under reporting of this offence.  Police Officers believe less than 1 in 10 distraction burglaries are reported.  There are a number of reasons for this:

• A victim may not realise that they have been a victim of theft

• The elderly are generally proud people and may be too embarrassed to tell their family

• People value their independence.  Many elderly feel that if they report the crime, they may be pressured to go into a ‘home’ by their families.

Effect on victims

To be a victim of crime is upsetting for anyone.  For the elderly to have their home and their trust violated, to lose their hard-saved cash and valuables, the effects can be devastating.  Decline in health and even death following a distraction burglary is not uncommon.  The elderly have a right to expect care from society!

So what can we do?

I urge all Neighbourhood Watch schemes to have care of the elderly in their community as a continuing focus and activity.  It isn’t just a matter of making sure they have a door chain.  The criminals who specialise in this type of crime, identify potential victims by looking for tell-tale signs:

• Lack of maintenance of home or garden may indicate a person lacking in mobility

• Single bottle of milk outside equals lone occupant

• Householders who have many ‘professional’ visitors e.g. district nurse, carers etc but few social visitors 

Neighbourhood Watch schemes can help to avoid these tell-tale signs.  We can also ensure that all our elderly have visits and do not become lonely.  Regular visitors will be a deterrent to offenders and tackle loneliness of the potential victim. Schemes can reassure older people that neighbours are keeping a watchful eye on their homes; hold meetings for senior citizens in the area, to find out their concerns; give personal safety advice; ensure appropriate problems are brought to the attention of statutory agencies.

What are the police doing?

All agencies that provide any form of service for the elderly are being encouraged to work together to contribute to the safety and well being of vulnerable people in our community.  Many are already members of the Derbyshire Doorstep Crime Network. 

Nationally all Police forces are working together on a joint initiative to tackle distraction burglary.  This is Operation Liberate.  By pooling all information on distraction crimes, the forces have had considerable success in detecting offences and reducing the crime.

The Crime Reduction website is a good source of information click here for the Crime Reduction website distraction burglary mini-site

Distraction burglary is an evil crime perpetrated against some of the most vulnerable in society.  It can be prevented and we all have a role to play.