Public Servant Lifestyle

Brian Capon of the British Bankers' Association (BBA) talks about the dangers - particularly to pensioners - of keeping excess cash in the home.

One of the most despicable crimes is the targeting of older and other vulnerable people through distraction burglary. Old peoples' lives can be devastated not just by the loss of the cash itself - which can often be their entire life savings - but also through the sense of being violated. Perpetrators of this crime are criminals and con-men.

Plausible Con-Men

Often they are plausible; they have come to "read the meter"; they are "from the council" and will often refer to a fictitious letter that "was definitely sent" to them, making the victim begin to doubt themselves. They will often have what appears to be a proper identity card.

Sometimes their approach makes the victim feel obliged to let them into their home, either through an "emergency", such as a reported gas leak or something which needs urgent attention to avoid a life-threatening situation. On other occasions, the victim's conscience will be preyed upon.

A "distraught" young mother with a young child might knock on the door to say her car has broken down and she needs to call a garage. Whatever the excuse, it will be untrue and, once the victim's attention is distracted, an accomplice will be elsewhere in the house looking for something valuable to steal.

Criminals

These criminals are experts at their job. They will be familiar with even the most unusual hiding place. And they will be quick. Often the victim will not realise themselves that they have had anything stolen. Often they fear calling the police, thinking that they themselves are at fault and that the police will tell them off. Always they feel betrayed.

Loss of a pensioner's life savings can destroy the victim's life, sometimes literally, and they will lose faith in values that we take for granted. Unfortunately it can be difficult to reach those who are most vulnerable with advice on simple steps that can help avoid some of the trauma associated with this crime.

Those who are likely to be potential victims are unlikely to have a bank account. Ironically, they prefer to keep their savings where they know they are "safe". The concept of handing their cash into a bank or building society in exchange for a slip of paper may seem alien to them. Banks' explanatory leaflets on simple accounts are unlikely to be of interest to them. Sometimes they will not heed the advice of relatives.

Elderly Relatives

But we can all do our bit to help. We can explain to our elderly relatives about the dangers of keeping excess cash in the home, that money in the bank can earn interest and that bills paid by direct debit can be cheaper. We can explain how their lives can be made easier through telephone banking, particularly if mobility is a problem. It might be a long and repetitive process, but it is down to us all to try.

The key, of course, is not to let these criminals into your home at all. Callers should never be let into the house without a prior appointment. Identity cards should always be checked with the issuing body using a published telephone number. Door chains or bolts should always be kept on. Genuine callers won't mind waiting. If you have any doubts call the police, a relative or a neighbour.

However genuine a caller might seem, treat any unannounced stranger with extreme caution. It might seem callous, but the sheep at the door could quickly and stealthily turn into a wolf. And you might not even notice.

Article by Brian Capon, supplied by the British Bankers' Association (BBA), reproduced with permission. The BBA is the principal trade association for banks operating in the UK.

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