June 2022 – Avoid Being a Victim of Transient Criminals

There is a type of criminal who travels from town to town, state to state preying, most often, on senior citizens. Police call them “transient criminals.” They are extremely well organized and specialize in perpetrating scams and frauds. Because these criminals are constantly on the move, they’re difficult to catch.

How They Operate

Transient criminals usually work in pairs, sometimes in larger groups. One member of the team will use a ruse to distract their victim: posing as a utility or construction worker; feigning illness; asking to leave a package or message for a neighbor, anything to draw the victim’s attention away as their partner enters the home to rob it.

Choosing Their Targets

Transient criminals operate in broad daylight and specifically target senior citizens because seniors are often:

• home alone during the day,
• likely to keep money and/or valuables at home,
• less physically intimidating,
• more trusting by nature, and
• less likely to report the crime.

Typically, transient criminals are careful not to ransack the premises when searching for valuables, so their crimes aren’t always noticed immediately. That gives them a head start in moving on to their next victim. Also, transient criminals often disguise their vehicles with fake or obscured license plates or magnetic commercial plaques that can be removed easily. For these reasons, apprehension is difficult.

How to Stop Them

Senior victims may be reluctant to report these crimes because they’re embarrassed or afraid someone will question their ability to remain independent. That’s understandable but, because these criminals move so quickly and are difficult to identify, police depend on timely reporting and shared information to catch them.

No one likes being victimized however, the best revenge may be in knowing you were instrumental in keeping someone else from experiencing the same fate. Report the crime.

Trust your instincts and stay safe out there!