SECURITY is being toughened at Wodonga's Senior Citizens Club after thieves swiped food during dances.
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The action comes as Wodonga Council updates its over-55s plan which found crime and community safety were among the top three concerns of the aged.
Senior Citizens Club president Charlie Caldwell said two thieves, including "a girl out of her wits", had recently stole food from the kitchen of the Havelock Street building during evening dances.
Security windows and sensor lights are being fitted to the premises.
Mr Caldwell said anti-social behaviour was a continuing concern.
"I had a group of men come up to me and they said 'we'll get you one night old man' and I just rang the police," Mr Caldwell, 84, said.
"It's not very nice."
The council says it is working with police, Neighbourhood Watch and the community safety committee to address wellbeing and crime concerns.
The city's feedback on its Age Friendly City Strategy 2015-2016 to 2019-2020 also found there was a need for more activities with a feeling there was "not enough for older people to do".
Mr Caldwell disputed that perception.
"We have 19 events a week now to entertain the senior citizens," he said.
"We have 308 members, so things are going well as far as entertainment goes.
"The biggest problem is a lot of them can't drive and there is no community buses to pick them up.
"A community bus to pick them up for things like bingo and sing-a-longs would be great value."
Mr Caldwell said he had raised the need for a community bus with the council and had been given no indication on whether the city would invest in it.
In commenting on the plan at Monday night's council meeting, councillors offered broad support.
Mayor Rodney Wangman said as the number of baby boomers continued to reach seniority there would be increased demand and expectation for services.
He said it was important they were tech savvy as connecting through online services would be a mainstay.
Cr Anna Speedie noted there were concerns about 55 being seen as elderly.
"The world has shifted significantly and unfortunately our federal and state counterparts haven't necessarily adjusted to that,” Cr Speedie said.
"They're happy to change the retirement age, but not the age you are classified as older."
The council's youngest member Eric Kerr, aged 21, said it was important the older age group was "well looked after" because they provided much of the city's volunteer base.
