Stella McDonnell knows not to give out her credit card or bank account information over the phone without verifying the identity of the caller. That's why the West Laurel senior ignored a number of voicemails saying there was something wrong with her account last summer.
"You just don't give out random information," said McDonnell, who declined to give her age. "It could be anybody on that telephone."
But when her account statement showed $3,000 charged at a Fuddruckers restaurant in California, McDonnell realized someone had stolen her credit card information and that the voicemails were in fact from the bank. Her experience made it important to her to join a newly formed group that establishes a working relationship between senior citizens and the Prince George's County Police Department's community-based police officers.
McDonnell was one of about 15 Laurel-area seniors who attended a Nov. 19 crime-prevention seminar with the Community Oriented Policing Services — or C.O.P.S. — District 6 unit from the county police department. The workshop, which took place at the Phelps Senior Center in Laurel, marked the second meeting of the C.O.P.S. Senior Coffee Club.
The partnership between county police and the group of seniors stemmed from another community policing program called Triad, which aims to increase communication between police and senior citizens. Sgt. Tina Blackistone said District 6 decided to reach out to Laurel-area seniors because they can be especially helpful with deterring and reporting neighborhood crime.
"They're the ones who are home," Blackistone said. "They have a huge impact, especially in the Laurel and Beltsville areas."
The next meeting, set for 1 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Phelps Center, will include a discussion on how to avoid becoming a crime victim while shopping. The group plans to meet every other Thursday for the foreseeable future. Most of the current members are seniors, but the group is open to all residents.
South Laurel resident Garold Stone, 63, said the meetings are useful for seniors and are also a good way for police to get tips and information out to the community.
"It's a mutually beneficial process," he said. "The seniors are showing that this is useful and interesting, and hopefully they'll tell their friends."
Last week's session focused on credit card and identity theft. Cpl. James Woody discussed ways to avoid becoming a victim, such as shredding financial documents and purchasing a locking mailbox. "It can be a major headache, and it's a very traumatizing event," he said.
Blackistone also shared a personal experience with identity theft. Blackistone was shopping at Giant supermarket with her daughter and had her purse in her cart. When she walked away to grab an item and her daughter turned her back from the cart, someone stole her wallet from the top of her purse.
By the time she made it to the store's check-out, the man had already used her card to purchase more than $1,000 in gift cards at a CVS.
"Before I even went to pay, he had already gotten what he needed to get," Blackistone said.
After attending the C.O.P.S. meeting, McDonnell said she plans to check her account statements more regularly so she can act faster if someone steals her information again.
"Some things are so common sense, but you don't think about them 'til after," she said.
