I have seen warnings being sent cautioning people to be cautious when out and about. Watch for people following you, especially if you are returning home from a bank or ATM. There was a couple in Florida who were beaten into submission after a $3000 dollar win at a casino, and women are reported being attacked by blitz attacks on their purses and handbags by hit-and-run motorcycles bandits. A woman in the UK was jailed for spraying her attacker with illegal pepper spray while the attacker was reportedly freed. Make sure you are not followed home from a shopping trip. Dangerous times seem to be looming, especially for seniors living in cities and larger towns. Even the U.S. military has been cautioned to be aware they may be targets for attack, and the recent armed attacks on the military base in San Antonio, Texas. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/17/us/shooting-air-force-base-san-antonio.html
I have changed my habits in a few ways. This city is not Chicago or NYC but it's also not the city it used to be. It's much larger with less police and crime is rampant, especially juvenile crime and what seems to be illegal immigrant crime. A few months ago there was a small rash of local women getting their purse snatched by the shoulder strap in parking lots. I no longer carry a purse into a store. Instead I have a small wallet with cash, credit cards and loyalty cards that will fit in a pocket or in my bra if I don't have a pocket. Might be a bit lumpy, but oh well. I do my shopping at times when it isn't busy and I observe the parking lot before parking and getting out. I haven't gone to malls for years. The army base here has forbidden their personnel to visit one of our big multi-level malls and I think malls are nearly finished. I wonder why it took so long. I do access my bank drive-thru once a month or so for cash. It's quite a distance so I have plenty of time to notice if anyone is behind me consistently. Of course there's always the possible traffic bump but so far, so good. A friend of mine did get that kind of traffic bump some years ago in Houston. I no longer go out at night but that died a natural death during the pandemic. I don't miss it. Another thing that helps with safety for the elderly is handicapped parking. I've had my placard for a couple of years so I can usually stay out of the back of parking lots. At home I never answer the door unless I'm expecting someone. That's more to prevent salesmen than home invaders but it works for both. I have a security alarm, etc. I also have a layering system on my doors. The storm doors have heavy locks and I always use them so if I do open the main door there is still a locked door between me and the visitor. This house was set up that way when I bought it.
First, when we are in a casino, I always switch my wallet from back pocket to front pocket. My wife never carries a purse. She has a small purse that she puts into her front pocket. Basically, we never win enough money to have anyone trail us. One nice thing about living in an apartment, very seldom, if anytime at all, does anyone break into an apartment. Just too many residents nearby. We do have a Blink Security Camera hooked up and pointed at our front door. My iPhone App controls it. We always keep our vehicle locked and on our FOB, we have an ALERT button that we can push that sets off the vehicle alarm. Only time we are out after dark is during the winter time, due to time change. And, we are never out after 8PM, unless watching a performance of the National Finals Rodeo at South Point Hotel/Casino in December. The performance generally ends at 10PM and we leave right after that. The parking lot is very well lit, with lots of people walking around the main entrance. As far as the bank goes, we simply don't go to it, unless we have to. We keep some gambling money at home in a Lock Box and use that for gambling. But, if we have to, we will go to an ATM at a casino and get some money. However, that money isn't in the "thousands or hundreds of dollars" bracket.