Seniors given safety tips amid burglaries

Never opening the door to strangers and asking for identification were two tips offered Friday by Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray to East Meadow seniors, part of a campaign to help them avoid being victims of burglaries.

The effort followed a well-publicized rash of such burglaries targeting seniors who are lured away from their home's entrance by one thief's friendly small talk while an accomplice enters the front door to loot their house.

"We have to remind ourselves not to open the door to strangers," Murray said during the safety seminar she hosted with Councilman Gary Hudes at the East Meadow Senior Center.

Nassau police spokesman Det. Vincent Garcia said the department believes the crimes are the work of one team that has targeted at least nine elderly homeowners since Dec. 9. They have struck in Bellmore, Wantagh, Massapequa Park, Jericho, West Hempstead and Merrick. All but one victim were at least 80 years old, he said.

No arrests have been made, Garcia said Friday. Residents should look out for an older maroon or red minivan with Florida plates or a white van with out-of-state plates, he said.

At the seminar, Murray advised seniors to ask for identification if someone rings the doorbell claiming to represent a utility company and to call the company to verify the person's identity. She reminded residents to keep their doors, windows and garage locked, install a peephole in the front door and inquire about alarm systems. She also suggested calling 911 to report suspicious people or activity.

Police asked anyone with information about the crimes to call Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS.

"Being prepared, not scared, is a key to protecting yourself from crime, including distraction burglary," said Murray, adding her parents are in their 80s.

Murray told seniors to keep costume jewelry in a jewelry chest and hide real valuables in a decoy safe. She showed an aerosol can that looks like a hair spray container but is hollow with a false bottom for storing jewelry.

Maryanne Goldberg, 85, of East Meadow, was among more than 50 seniors at the safety seminar. A few months ago a man rang her doorbell claiming to be delivering medications, but she knew she had not ordered any medication and told the man to go away, Goldberg said.

"I don't open my door to anyone," said Goldberg, adding she was a burglary victim twice about 30 years ago.

Murray and Hudes also reminded seniors to beware of scams over the phone and on the Internet, and to never give callers personal or financial information. The town plans similar seminars in the future with seniors around the town, Murray said.