ELDERLY residents in Ruthin attended a crime prevention awareness meeting to shed light on doorstep crime.

The meeting, held by OWL Cymru, a crime prevention charity that promotes community safety, looked to help elderly people set boundaries when answering the door.

It included a presentation and role play with characters based on real-life experiences of doorstop crime, to demonstrate what types of crimes can take place and how they can be solved.

Denise Edwards, scheme co-ordinator for OWL Cymru, said: “People are living longer so it is more important than ever to look after the elderly and vulnerable.

“It is about keeping on getting the message out and reminding people that doorstep crime happens.

“We say to people ‘if in doubt, keep them out’.”

One way the group does this is through ‘Crime and Community Safety Alerts’, a messaging system that circulates incidents that have occurred in a person’s area relating to cold callers, bogus callers, rogue traders and other crimes.”

Anne Roberts, councillor for Ruthin who attended the event, said: “The scheme has a real impact on people’s lives.

“The elderly are vulnerable and, while Ruthin does not have a doorstep crime problem, crime prevention advice is needed everywhere.”

To find out more or sign up to OWL Cymru’s messaging system call 01352 708118.