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Drop in crimes against the elderly

Samurai

Alfrescian (Inf)
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Drop in crimes against the elderly


20121224.151049_st_elderlycrime.jpg


By Joyce Lim
The Straits Times
Tuesday, Dec 25, 2012

SINGAPORE - Madam Nee Chat Seng lives in a one-room HDB flat in Jalan Bukit Merah, and does not own a mobile phone or have a telephone at home.

Her hearing, eyesight and mobility have deteriorated, making the 98-year-old widow and others like her prime targets for criminals.

Police said that over the last five years, about 18 per cent of snatch theft victims here are aged 65 years and above.

But with stepped-up efforts to fight crimes against the elderly, police statistics have shown a decline in the number of elderly victims since 2009. In that year, there were 123 elderly victims of snatch theft. That number dropped to 60 last year. And in the first half of this year, there were just 23 elderly victims.

Police statistics also revealed that the number of elderly victims of robbery and cheating has come down.

In 2009, 84 senior citizens fell victim to cheating and related offences. Only 74 fell prey to scams in 2010, and 56 were conned last year.

Even though the statistics cover crime trends islandwide, police said there has been anecdotal evidence of a decline in crimes targeted at the elderly in the precinct of the Bukit Merah East Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC), where the Silver Watch Group (SWG) programme was launched.

The programme covers housing estates such as Outram and Bukit Merah, which have the highest concentration of residents aged 65 years and above in the precinct.

Aiming to keep these people safe from crimes, police officers and volunteers would visit the homes of elderly residents, many of whom live alone.

The officers would check the padlocks of the homes and educate the occupants on safety measures such as what they should do when approached by strangers.

Police told The Sunday Times that areas such as Outram and Bukit Merah are more prone to crimes against the elderly.

The commander of Central Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Daniel Tan, said the SWG has been effective in reaching out to elderly residents, making them aware of the latest crime trends and giving them advice on how to be more vigilant.

With Singapore's population ageing rapidly, the police also see the need to extend such programmes for the elderly to other districts.

In August, the Ang Mo Kio South Neighbourhood Police Centre launched the Elderly Care Programme to educate residents there and share with them tips to prevent crimes targeted at the elderly such as snatch theft, robbery and scams.

Madam Ho Hoy Fong, an SWG volunteer, said the police have closely monitored the safety of elderly residents in Jalan Bukit Merah, where she lives, for the last few years.

Together with volunteers, the officers would visit the homes of elderly residents twice a month.

"We would remind elderly residents to beware of bogus electricians and contractors, teach them to ask for identification from strangers and tell them not to open their doors to strangers or get into the lift with them," said the 55-year-old.

"Many elderly people are forgetful and need to be reminded constantly of crime prevention measures."

In April, police arrested a 41-year-old serial snatch thief who targeted elderly residents in Holland and Ghim Moh estates. The man would follow elderly women going home from the market into lifts and snatch their necklaces. Court proceedings are ongoing for the accused.

In the same month, police arrested a 35-year-old woman who punched an 85-year-old man in the face and robbed him of about $900. The robbery took place at an apartment block in Eu Tong Sen Street. The woman has since been sentenced to a jail term of two years and six months.

The police said most crimes against the elderly take place in common areas such as void decks, staircases and lifts. Most also occur during the day, when victims go about their routine activities alone, such as shopping for groceries.

Criminals pick on the elderly as they may not be able to provide accurate descriptions of the crime because of poor eyesight or memory, said the police.

Madam Ho said: "Some people may be so bold as to slip into the flats of the elderly while they water their plants in the corridor."

Madam Nee, who has a daughter, has heard stories of neighbours in the estate falling prey to criminals.

She said in Cantonese: "Some thieves would follow you home. I would not open my door. If I feel that something is not right, I would shout for help."

On handling bogus contractors, she said: "Just don't open the door to strangers."

 
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