The Pine Bluff Crime Advisory Commission recently offered safety tips for elderly residents, according to a news release. Jean Painton is the commission’s chairwoman and the Rev. Kerry Price Sr. is the co-chairman.
Safety tips include:
• Be sure all doors are locked at all times and an outside light is on at night.
• Have a relative or well-known friend to call during the morning, afternoon and at 6:30 p.m.
• Never answer the door for strangers during the day or night.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
• Develop a “code word” for relatives or very close friends before opening the door.
• Don’t give personal information by the telephone.
• Keep all personal and emergency names and numbers near the telephone.
• Don’t turn lights on inside the house to look outside a window at night.
• Be familiar with your weapon. Keep it available and know how to use it.
The commissioners also advise pastors to make calls to be sure all is well with elderly church members as well as those in their neighborhoods or in the vicinity of the church. Also, police officers should familiarize themselves with the elderly in their zone and leave a name card with the occupant.
Police phone numbers:
Residents may call police at these numbers: Non-emergency — 870-541-5300; Emergency — 911; Telephone Reporting Unit (TRU) – 870-730-2086. TRU is for making a report call when there is no need for the police to come to the residence.