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Safety concerns grow in Brooklyn following attacks on older adults

Advocates recommend seniors stay alert at all times and reach out for help if something feels off.

Melissa Rose Cooper

Jan 29, 2025, 10:45 PM

Updated 12 days ago

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Safety concerns are growing in Brooklyn following recent attacks that are targeting older adults. It's one of the reasons Hazel Speer decided to attend a data privacy class hosted by the Office of Information Privacy that teaches members in the community how to protect their information. As an older adult, Speer says she wants to take every measure she can to stay safe, whether it's online or outside when she's walking around by herself. "I get in cabs. I stay kind of to myself when I’m out I’m alone," says Speer. "And I stay by myself. And I just watch." Earlier this month, less than 24 hours into the new year, a 71-year-old woman says four teenagers attacked and tried to rob her as she was getting off the train in Downtown Brooklyn. Two days later, police say someone punched a 74-old-man in the back of the head while he was walking, knocking him to the ground. That's why organizations like Safe Horizon are providing resources for seniors to help keep them safe. "We want to address the fear and anxiety that comes after someone’s been victimized," says Sergio Navas, manager with the Crime Victim Assistance Program at Safe Horizon. "We want to make sure that we address those and we empower them." Advocates recommend seniors stay alert at all times and reach out for help if something feels off.