Every day, older people across Placer County, California visit local grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, and shopping centers to run errands and stay connected to their community. Unfortunately, these everyday activities can also present opportunities for fraud, scams, and other forms of elder financial exploitation.
That’s why the Placer County District Attorney’s Office created Shop Safe with Placer PROTECT — an innovative community-based crime prevention program designed to help older adults shop safely and confidently.
A Community Commitment to Safety
The mission of the Placer County District Attorney’s Office is to preserve public safety, enhance quality of life, prosecute criminals, support victims and survivors, and protect the well-being of all citizens. As part of this mission, the office established Placer PROTECT, a multidisciplinary task force dedicated to elder abuse investigations, victim support, and community awareness.
Shop Safe builds on this commitment by focusing on prevention where it matters most: in-person interventions with a person-centered approach.
Why Shop Safe Matters
Financial elder abuse and identity theft don’t just happen online. Many cases begin in public places through distractions, casual conversations, or seemingly “helpful” strangers looking for an opportunity.
Perpetrators often frequent local businesses and shopping centers to identify and exploit older shoppers. Shop Safe aims to reduce those opportunities by increasing awareness, strengthening partnerships with businesses, and promoting visible prevention efforts.
What the Program Does
Shop Safe partners directly with Placer County businesses to implement simple, effective safeguards, providing:
- Educational materials for older residents and family members
- In-person safety tips and outreach in shopping areas
- Volunteer presence to promote prevention tips and awareness
- Coordination with store leadership and loss prevention teams
- Prevention-focused guidance for staff on what to watch for and how to respond appropriately
The goal is simple: foster a culture of awareness and protection, deter criminal conduct, and facilitate early detection and intervention.
Partnering with Local Businesses
Participating businesses receive Shop Safe resources, support with on-site outreach and safety messaging, and a direct point of contact within Placer PROTECT to collaborate on prevention practices.
Ideal partners include grocery stores, pharmacies, big-box retailers, banks, and other high-traffic locations.
How Volunteers Can Help
Community volunteers play an important role by sharing prevention resources, helping older adults understand common scam tactics, and serving as extra “eyes and ears” to promote awareness and encourage reporting.
Mirroring the sentiments shared by numerous Placer elders, one local resident shared, “We all love to shop, and we want to feel safe doing it.”
Shop Safe is a meaningful community-based abuse prevention strategy to ensure that our county remains a safe place to live, shop, and retire.
To learn more or become a partner, contact Investigative Assistant Cassidy Paganucci at PROTECT@placer.ca.gov. Website: Shop Safe | Placer County, CA
