Violet Carr and the Rev. Zenobia Brooks don’t want to become victims of crime, so a year ago the sisters signed up for a conceal and carry class.
“I lost my husband of 48 years and didn’t want to be vulnerable,” said Brooks, of Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood.
“I’m meaner than my sister,” said Carr, of Jeffery Manor. “I have a conceal and carry and I will use it.”
Carr scored 30 shots out of the required 30 rounds to qualify for her conceal and carry license. She’s also a retired manager for the Postal Service. “You would have a hard time trying to scam me,” she said.
Yet even the savviest seniors can benefit from learning more about how to protect themselves. That’s why Carr, Brooks and 119 other older area residents enrolled in Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s Senior Citizen Law Enforcement Academy, offered though May 16 at Smith Village in Beverly.
“If you’re taking this class, you’re going to be more aware and less likely to be a victim,” Dart said in a recent phone interview. “Crime is so horribly random. The only real common thread is that criminals definitely target seniors. I think this happens throughout the country.”
The number of crimes against seniors is likely to be 10 times greater than those reported, he said, “because most seniors feel so ashamed and embarrassed. But if this happens, don’t fear reaching out immediately. Call somebody.”
That somebody should include the police or a trusted relative or friend.
Since the Senior Citizen Law Enforcement Academy was established by former Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheahan in 1996, it has graduated around 10,000 seniors, many who have shared what they’ve learned with others.
“This is one of our biggest groups yet in terms of people who signed up,” said Katie Walsh, coordinator for the Academy. “Before the pandemic, we’d get 20 to 25 seniors.”
About 10 a.m. on the third Tuesday in April, the group packed the Smith Village auditorium for the second of six two-hour sessions. Still others watched the presentation by Cook County Sheriff’s Police Detective Michael Kane on a television monitor in the Smith Village pub.
The Academy provides older residents of Cook County with an overview of the responsibilities of law enforcement agencies and educates them on latest crime trends, con games and scams.
“I think this is a smart thing, given the situation of our city at the present time,” said Dorothy Pawelski, a retired special education teacher and resident of Smith Village. “After going to the first session, I was so thrilled to learn what Cook County is doing to address crime.”
Chicago 19th Ward Ald. Matt O’Shea co-sponsored the academy coming to Smith Village and introduced Cook County Police Detective Michael Kane. Before turning the mic over, he urged attendees to, “Pick up your pens and pay attention.”
Even without taking notes, participants came away with plenty of printed information and resources relating to Kane’s presentation.
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“I enjoy learning and getting new information and meeting other seniors,” said Robbi Jones, of Chatham. “In today’s climate, we have to get any information we can on safety because crime in Chicago has gotten out of hand.”
This particular class session covered home and personal safety, auto theft, vacation planning and safety, internet and phone scams, identity theft, as well as elder abuse and financial exploitation by relatives.
“There are so many more crimes and scams,” said Vanessa Glover, a retired university administrator and Beverly resident. “My mom is 91 and I want to share the information with her.”
Kane offered several survival tips.
Be on the lookout for “ruse themes” — people posing as utility representatives needing to check utility connections,
Install solid doors equipped with deadbolts and viewing access for seeing who’s outside before opening,
Have an alarm system. “And if you don’t have one, get a sticker that says you do,” Kane said.
Keep shrubbery trimmed and lights on at night or install motion activated lights to eliminate places where home invaders can hide.
Never leave house keys under rocks or flowerpots. “If you thought of where to hide it, the thief will think to look for it,” Kane said. Better to leave a key with a trusted relative or friend or get a lock box.
Kane also urged seniors, when out in public, to adopt a “head on a swivel” attitude with an acute awareness of their surroundings. “Bad guys make note of who’s aware, who’s paying attention,” he said. “They’re much more likely to pick the person who’s tuned into their cellphone.”
Walk in pairs or groups and avoid being out at night.
When gassing up, keep cars locked and windows up.
Carjackings can occur in all sorts of places, Kane said, including driveways, parking lots, garages, gas stations, highway entrance ramps, even at stoplights, “so whenever possible, avoid the right lane to avoid being boxed in.”
Never stop for stranded motorists, he said. Call 3-1-1 for help instead. If a driver seems to be following, drive past your home and make several random turns. If the car continues to follow, drive to a police station.
For out-of-town trips, suspend mail and newspaper deliveries. Leave music or a light on. And have someone check on your property regularly.
Seniors living in apartments were urged to report broken mailboxes to their post office.
Suggestions for avoiding scams, cybercrime and identity theft seemed a bit more complex. Many seniors have fallen prey to “the sweetheart scam,” with a person professing love to bilk money from an unsuspecting lonely person. Additional information is available at NCEA.acl.gov.
Kane also urged seniors to obtain annual credit reports once a year and know how to freeze credit to prevent others from accessing credit in their name.
If you discover identity theft, immediately file a police report, and be persistent in contacting police to investigate. While it can be heartbreaking to learn a relative or trusted caretaker has tried to steal savings or accessed credit cards, “more often than not,” Kane said, “it’s not someone you know.”
After the presentation, Jim Corbett, a retired Marine, firefighter and police officer, thanked Kane and told him about a female acquaintance who had fallen for prey to someone posing as her grandchild needing money in an emergency.
“The amount of crime that’s being directed at seniors is overwhelming,” Corbett said. “I want to share this information.”
That’s exactly what he planned to do with fellow residents of Fox Woods in Oak Lawn.
Susan DeGrane is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.