Anyone can become a victim of a crime of opportunity. The Rockville City Police Department offers these tips to protect you from crime while banking:
- Many criminals know exactly when government checks arrive each month and may pick that day to attack. Avoid this by using direct deposit, which sends your money directly from the government to the bank of your choice. And, at many banks, free checking accounts are available to senior citizens. Your bank has all the information.
- Never withdraw money from your bank accounts for anyone except yourself. Be wary of con artists and get-rich schemes. When someone approaches you with a get-rich-quick scheme involving your savings, it is their get-rich-quick scheme. If it is a legitimate investment, the opportunity to contribute your funds will still be there tomorrow – after you have had time to consider it.
- Store valuables in a safe deposit box.
- Never give your money to someone who calls on you and says they are a bank official. A bank will never ask you to remove money. Banks need the use of your money, and they don’t want one of their customers to invite crime by having large amounts of cash around.
Remember that crime prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Share these tips with your neighbors and friends, to make it tough for criminals to work in your neighborhood.
Find more crime and safety tips with the Rockville City Police Department’s weekly crime reports at www.rockvillemd.gov/271/Weekly-Crime-Reports.