In an effort to prevent and deter crime among senior citizens, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) held a free information-filled event on Tuesday, April 16. The event was held at the new Orange County Multicultural Center located at 7149 W. Colonial Drive.
The interactive program welcomed more than 140 seniors from all over the county.
Photo credit: Linda Y. Walters
The sessions were informative and covered various components of crime prevention and victim advocacy. Attendees were encouraged to provide valuable feedback and personal experiences.
The Victim’s Advocate segment focused on the many resources available within the Sheriff’s department which can be utilized by all citizens; but particularly by seniors.
The segment on Crime Prevention included several important aspects of how we can all protect ourselves and our homes.
In addition, properly placed outdoor and nighttime lighting, easily identifiable address placement, transparent fencing and “RING” doorbells can deter criminals. There was also a focus on various types of door, locks and windows which can enhance security measures in any home.
Cassandra Q, an attendee and Pine Hills homeowner for more than twenty years said, “Keeping your home safe with good lighting and the protection of reinforced sliding glass doors is really important.”
The organizing of neighborhood watch groups was also a part of the discussion.
County Relations Deputy Justin Age said, “This is the first of a new series of senior events which will be held within the community. We think it’s important to engage with community and in particular, with our senior citizens.” Age added, “The next event will be scheduled in the coming months and will include a focus on disaster preparedness, etc.”
This informative and important program was spearheaded by OCSO’s Elvie Armand, Community Relations Specialist. The program is part of the Support Services Division/Community Relations Section of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
“We think its incredibly important for all citizens, but in particular our senior citizens, to be able to avoid crime and to protect themselves, this is why we have focused on putting programs like this together,” Ms. Armand said.
