May is Senior Citizen Awareness Month and a good opportunity to review resources and crime tips to protect elderly individuals from fraud, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. With an estimated 10,000 people turning 65 every day, by 2050 older adults will comprise over 20% of the U.S. population.
Crime prevention tips for older Americans include:
Keep your home well-lit at night, the curtains closed, and check that the doors and windows are locked with dead-bolt locks on exterior doors.
Ask for identification from solicitors, and do not allow strangers into your home that arrive without prior confirmation with the company.
Consider installing a peephole or even a second door at the front entrance, which allows you to talk to a salesperson without opening the door.
Never provide personal information to someone over the phone unless you initiated the phone call. Hang up and call the financial institution, utility company, etc.
Do not allow people who show up for home repair services to look around your property, even if they offer free inspections. They may either cause damage to an area unfamiliar to you like the roof and claim it needs repair, or they may agree to fix something for a price, but once started, claim the cost to finish the repair properly is much greater.
Discuss your medical and financial plans with a well-trusted family member or friend and find an attorney that specializes in trusts and estate planning, make a will, appoint a POA, and decide on advanced directives, if applicable.
The State of Maryland provides additional information to help recognize the potential signs of elder abuse and neglect, whether it be emotional, physical, or financial. The Montgomery County Police Department has a program called Keeping Seniors Safe (KSS) that offers KSS representatives to talk to community groups about fraud scams and general safety issues.
5/5/26, a male, age 50, was arrested for assault, reckless endangerment, and malicious destruction of property in the 200 Blk. Rockville Pike.
5/5/26, a male, age 26, was arrested on an outstanding bench warrant in the 100 Blk. S. Washington Street.
5/5/26, a male, age 44, was arrested for DUI in the 1100 Blk. Veirs Mill Road.
5/7/26, a male, age 32, was arrested on an outstanding warrant through the Montgomery County Police Department for theft at the Rockville City Police Station.
5/8/26, a male, age 33, was arrested on an outstanding warrant through the Montgomery County Police Department for violating probation at the Rockville City Police Department.
5/8/26, a male, age 32, was arrested for trespassing and two outstanding warrants through the Montgomery County Police Department for trespassing in the 100 Blk. Halpine Road.
5/8/26, a male, age 16, was arrested for auto theft and the possession of a handgun in the 14000 Blk. Avery Road.
5/8/26, a male, age 31, was arrested for disorderly conduct in the 100 Blk. Gibbs Street.
5/8/26, a male, age 28, was arrested for aggravated assault in the 400 Blk. Monroe Street.
5/9/26, a male, age 34, was arrested for burglary in the 500 Blk. Veirs Mill Road.
5/9/26, a male, age 36, was arrested on an outstanding bench warrant through the Montgomery County Police Department in the 15000 Blk. Frederick Road.
5/10/26, a female, age 33, was arrested for DUI at the intersection of Regal Oak Drive and Tower Oaks Boulevard.
5/10/26, a male, age 31, was cited for drinking in public in the 800 Blk. of Monroe Street.
5/10/2026, a male, age 35, was arrested on outstanding warrants through the U.S. Marshals Service and the Montgomery County Police Department in the 300 Blk. E. Gude Drive.
5/10/26, a male, age 36, was arrested on two outstanding warrants through the Montgomery County Police Department for assault and drug possession during a traffic stop at the intersection of Hungerford Drive and Ivy League Lane.
5/11/26, a male, age 47, was arrested for drug possession in the 1600 Blk. E. Gude Drive.
Incidents
900 Blk. Baltimore Road, an unknown subject attempted to steal a 2017 Hyundai Sonata by damaging the ignition between 9:00 p.m. on 5/4/26 and 3:05 a.m. on 5/5/26.
600 Blk. Monroe Street, two unknown males burglarized a vacant residence and fled the location through an unlocked rear window between 5:00 p.m. at 5/4/26 and 8:35 a.m. on 5/5/26.
100 Blk. Gibbs Street, an unknown subject stole the phone holder from the victim’s bicycle while it was parked overnight between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on 5/4/26. Incident reported on 5/5/26.
300 Blk. Rutgers Street, a known juvenile male assaulted another juvenile and threatened to harm her while they were playing between 4:00 p.m. on 5/4/26 and 7:11 p.m. on 5/5/26.
200 Blk. E. Argyle Street, two unknown males stole personal property and cash from the victim’s unsecured vehicle at 11:50 p.m. on 5/5/26.
1300 Blk. Piccard Drive, an unknown subject stole a package from the mailroom of the victim’s residence between 6:30 p.m. on 4/24/26 and 10:00 a.m. on 4/26/26. Incident reported on 5/6/26.
Unit Blk. Farm Haven Court, an unknown subject signed up for a cellular phone plan utilizing the victim’s personal information at 8:00 a.m. on 2/24/26. Incident reported on 5/6/26.
2200 Blk. Glenmore Terrace, an unknown subject obtained a loan using the victim’s personal information on 11/5/25. Incident reported on 5/6/26.
1000 Blk. Willowleaf Way, an unknown subject stole the catalytic converter from a vehicle between 10:10 p.m. on 5/6/26 and 7:30 a.m. on 5/7/26.
1600 Blk. Research Boulevard, an unknown subject vandalized the door of a business between 2:00 p.m. on 5/6/26 and 9:00 a.m. on 5/7/26.
400 Blk. Elmcroft Boulevard, an unknown subject fraudulently claimed to represent the victim’s bank and convinced the victim to transfer funds from a retirement account between 9:00 a.m. on 4/17/26 and 2:16 p.m. on 5/7/26.
1100 Blk. Higgins Place, the victim reported on 5/7/26 that after leaving his vehicle with a mechanic on 12/15/25 for repairs with the agreement of picking up the vehicle in late January 2026, the mechanic failed to return the vehicle as promised and disconnected his phone number.
800 Blk. Pleasant Drive, an unknown subject entered an unsecured vehicle and stole personal property at 9:00 p.m. on 5/7/26.
400 Blk. Lincoln Street, an unknown female stole cash from a business office at 6:10 p.m. on 5/7/26.
12000 Blk. Ardennes Avenue, a known male and female engaged in a mutual assault at 4:19 a.m. on 5/9/26. Subjects were referred for charges and obtaining peace orders.
1000 Blk. Copperstone Court, an unknown subject stole personal property from an unsecured vehicle at 12:00 a.m. on 4/30/26. Incident reported on 5/9/26.
700 Blk. Rockville Pike, an unknown subject stole merchandise from a business at 5:00 p.m. on 5/9/26.
800 Blk. College Parkway, an unknown subject damaged personal property at a residence at 9:00 p.m. on 5/9/26.
1600 Blk. Veirs Mill Road, an unknown subject attempted to make unlawful entry into a vacant residence at 4:29 a.m. on 5/11/26.
14000 Blk. Shady Grove Road, an unknown subject assaulted the victim at 8:28 p.m. on 5/11/26.
