OLD people are today being urged: "Don't be a victim of crime."

The warning came as the Age Concern charity announced a series of events to tell senior citizens how to cut the risks.

Fire crews, crime reduction officers and Neighbourhood Watch officials will give talks and demonstrations.

Age Concern's Safe and Secure Week - which starts today - will also offer free items.

Age Concern in Huddersfield will be opening its Cross Church Street office all week.

The move comes as latest figures show there were 974,000 domestic burglaries in the UK last year.

Offences are falling and the Home Office is working hard to cut them by a quarter in the next 12 months.

David Myers, station commander at Huddersfield fire station, said: "Age Concern's Safe and Secure Week is a great opportunity to remind older people about safety. We will be offering lots of advice, as well as arranging free home fire safety checks."

Special presentations at the Age Concern offices will be run by the fire brigade on Thursday (10am-12.30pm) and by Victim Support on Friday (10am-noon).

Tomorrow, Age Concern officials will be at the Crossroads Centre in Meltham between 10am and 12.30pm and the Information Point in Meltham between 2pm and 4pm.

Age Concern says schemes such as Safe and Secure Week can give people a better understanding of potential dangers.

Linda Wilson, of Age Concern Kirklees in Huddersfield, said: "Crime is a sad reality of our society, but there are steps that older people can take to help them feel safer at home and when out and about."

As well as advice, Age Concern offers next week include:

* A free goody bag for every customer

* A free personal attack alarm with every home and contents insurance quote

* Free home demonstrations of Aid-Call, Age Concern's personal alarm system.