Why are so many pensioners being murdered

The elderly are seen as easy targets, unable to defend themselves very well and perhaps not as quick thinking as others, also the thugs think that elderly people are likely to have a stash of cash in their home - easy pickings. I don't think dishing out leaflets would make any difference, it would just be a waste of money and time. There have been tv ads targeted at the elderly regarding security (but not very recently as far as I know) and these would probably be more effective. Perhaps family members, friends, neighbours or organisations like age concern could or should step up and be helpful.

Isn't it awful Wendi when you can't sit with ease in your own home in case you are butchered to death is what a lot of old people think. Yes your idea of t.v. advertisements is very good. I never sit in the house without the doors locked and if I go back way into the garden and sit I lock the doors. If anyone rings the door bell I can open one door and see who it is and don't open the next one if I don't know who they are. I usually shout "can I help you" but usually do not answer the door. When I was at home with my parents they never locked the doors only when they were going to bed and that was in a City.

It's awful one story sticks in my mind when the elderly man heard something outside his window and looked out and some boys were trying to steal his car he went after them and they stabbed him and he died! Tragedy! His car that he worked hard for and just because he didn't sit back and let them away with it he has lost his life!! What a brave man!

I think we live in a world of increasing loss of hope among people, particularly the young, and with that comes a reduction in respect for the rest of society, particularly the elderly as they are soft and available targets. I think this will bring a new wave of thinking among the older folk who may well withdraw behind their front doors and force yet more isolation among themlselves.

I did an official evening call recently in a semi-rural area and I called on adjoining houses for information. The woman who answered was 91 years of age and even though I was carrying full local authority ID, I did suggest that she shouldn't be so keen to open the door in future as my ID could have been false and it was after dark etc.

Frankly, and this is sad to admit, I do feel that we are going to see a lot more attacks on older folk where their age and ability to resist will simply be a target for these mindless, spineless thugs. So sad.

I am a neighbourhood watch person in(thankfully) a small but safe village,and an ex police control room operator. Elderly are prone to violence and thefts because sadly they are proportionately more vulnerable,mentally and physically.PLUS,they are not respected as much as they were,particularly by the youth of today, who see them as easy targets.the punishments for ANY offences need to be stepped up severely to hammer home the message to the 'socially challenged'. (criminal tossers)

Absolutely right derric6 - Some people treat pensioners as second class citizens. Everyone will be old one day if they last that long.