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More than 15‚000 distraction burglaries are expected to be committed this year‚ and older people are most at risk of becoming victims. Today (Friday‚ July 1) the charity and National Grid Transco launch a project to combat doorstep thieves.

Lack of spy holes and awareness of the tactics used by distraction burglars are leaving older people vulnerable to distraction burglars - the average age of victims is 78 . Our research reveals that less than a quarter of older people have spy holes fitted ‚ one of the simplest ways to check the identity of callers.  

Distraction burglars can cause immense financial and emotional distress to victims. Age Concern and National Grid Transco have teamed up to run an innovative project using theatre‚ handyman schemes and out-reach programmes to ensure older people are better informed and their homes are more secure.
 
Gordon Lishman‚ Director General Age Concern England‚ said:

“This is a cruel crime that causes emotional and financial distress to victims.

“Thousands of distraction burglaries are committed every year‚ but the real extent of the crime is not known as many older people feel embarrassed and do not report it to the police. By working with National Grid Transco to deliver ‘Sure At Your Door’ we hope older people will feel safer in their own homes.” 

Jon Butterworth‚ National Operations Director‚ National Grid Transco‚ said: “We are delighted to be working with Age Concern to help people distinguish genuine callers from bogus callers. This initiative will give people the knowledge and the tools to beat the distraction burglar. It is important that older people protect themselves by fitting a spy hole and door chain and check that every caller is genuine.”
 
Brian Steele‚ former Chief Superintendent West Yorkshire Police‚ said:

This is a distressing crime yet by wising up to the techniques bogus callers use‚ older people can beat them. The National Grid Transco and Age Concern ‘Sure At Your Door Project’ is an exciting project and sets a wonderful example of the importance of working together to build safer‚ happier communities."

The ‘Sure At Your Door’ project is currently running in Sheffield‚ Wigan and Wolverhampton. It is expected to give more than 6‚000 older people the knowledge and confidence to feel safe in their own homes.

Sure At Your Door is using a variety of techniques to help older people beat doorstep thieves:

• Audiences of over 50s will attend special theatre performances
• Information packs will be sent to hundreds of residents
• Volunteers will offer one-to-one educational sessions with the most vulnerable housebound older people
• A handyperson will fit security measures such as spy holes to older people’s homes
• Residents will be urged to sign up to the Priority Services Register which enables them to set up an agreed password between them and their gas and electric suppliers

Notes to Editors:

1. National Statistics ‘Distraction burglary recorded crime data’
2. Home Office Good Practice Guide 2002 (from local study)
3. ACRS LifeForce survey 2004/05‚ Crime and security‚ response of 513 respondents

Photos and case studies are available on request contact Mel Beardon on 0208 765 7350.

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Mel Beardon
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