When you look at the national statistics from the US Dept. of Justice about crimes against seniors, here are the facts:
"National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), persons age 65 or older generally experienced victimizations
at much lower rates than
younger groups of people from 1993 through 2002.
For the period 1993-2002 the elderly experienced nonfatal violent crime at a
rate 1/20th that of young persons (4 per 1,000 age 65 or older versus 82
victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12-24). Violent crimes include rape,
sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated and simple assaults."
This isn't a promotion for people not to be careful or to let their commonsense and the great wisdom that comes with age to be set aside when dealing with strangers. Just the facts.
Also, according to the report, "...Purse snatching/pocket picking
(personal larceny) was the only measured crime for which the elderly
were victimized at about the same rates as most other age groups..."
The most recent stats from the USDOJ on this subject are upto 2002. Other articles I've read show the trend continuing. I don't like misinformation or fear mongering. Just as a side note, we have a security light that comes on when we pull into our carport at TV. Our neighbors commented that they liked the fact that it comes on at night when they pull around our cul-de-sac and their headlights hit our driveway. Two of our neighbors installed them at their homes. Not just for security, but so we can see to get out of the car and into the house without tripping.
http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/cpa6502.pdf