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Crime Stoppers focusing on crimes against seniors in 2012 By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Wrapping up January as Crime Stoppers Month, the local chapter of the organization has set out its theme for 2012, saying it will focus on reporting crime against seniors. The Crime Stoppers of Halton (CSH) announced this year's initiative at its annual event at the Halton Regional Centre in Oakville last month. "Many of you know the theme for this year's Crime Stoppers Month is Get Informed, Get Involved, Report a Crime Against Seniors," said Regional Chair Gary Carr. "This message is extremely important because many crimes against seniors go unidentified and unreported, leaving a growing segment of our population vulnerable." It is reported that about one in eight residents in Halton are seniors. Carr was speaking to a gathering of media and guests, including police officers and volunteers. Crime Stoppers is a charitable organization that is not part of the police force. It partners with the police department to help officers solve crimes. It operates on the generosity of donors and volunteers. Crime Stoppers offers anonymity to individuals who provide tips or a cash reward for their help. "Crime Stoppers only works because of a close and trusted relationship and partnership between the community, the media and the police service," said CSH chair Gary McLean. He said since Crime Stoppers came into existence in Halton in 1988, tips to the organization have helped recover nearly $20 million in stolen property and illegal narcotics. Halton Regional Police Service Chief Gary Crowell joked to the gathering about this event being the final of the Gary, Gary and Gary show referring to himself, Carr and McLean. He is retiring this year. Joking aside, he talked about the vulnerable sector of seniors issues go directly to the team of detectives, who are plain-clothes officers. The police department goes out and promotes awareness to empower seniors against crime and abuse. "Elder abuse is something people don't like to talk about. People hide behind closed doors," she said. "I think it goes unreported because a lot of times it falls at the hands of somebody who is a trusted loved one. It might be a family member." into a retirement home. Financial abuse can come in many forms. Examples include a distraction scam, whereby one person will distract a senior, such as by bumping into them at a grocery store, while another person reaches into the senior's purse and grabs their wallet; or a grandson scam, where someone will call a senior and pretends he or she is the senior's grandchild and needs money, possibly for bail as the money is refundable; or a computer virus scam, where someone will call claiming to be the maker of the computer saying there is a virus on it and they could remove the virus for a fee. Financial abuse could also be done through Power of Attorney, such as when a family member has the power to control the senior's finances. "We can educate and educate and I can make presentations every day but people are still going to get scammed," she said. "Seniors need to empower themselves and they need to make sure they're following the proper crime prevention procedures." The presentation also featured Christopher Bint, the executive director of the nonSee Education page 16 15· Thursday, February 16, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com the community, the seniors. He said 23 per cent of Halton's elderly live alone and are a constant target for crime. "It's no surprise that when we're putting our plan together, the people of this community identify the safety of this vulnerable population as one of their top 10 policing priorities," he told the gathering. The police service has several programs to help stop crime against seniors. It also has a team of detectives dedicated to investigating crimes against seniors. Constable Wendy Moraghan, the police department's elder services co-ordinator, spoke about some of the initiatives of the police force. The police work with area organizations and volunteers, and Crime Stoppers tips about Elder abuse could come in a variety of ways and is often done by someone in a position of trust, such as a caregiver, family member, lawyer, or financial advisor, she said. These forms of abuse could be physical (the easiest to recognize), sexual, financial (the most commonly reported) psychological, or from neglect. "A lot of times, the seniors don't want to report the crimes because they're embarrassed. They don't come forward," Moraghan said. She said seniors may also be afraid of the repercussions if they admit to having been scammed, such as if they gave away money. They may be fearful that their right to look after their money will be taken away, or that they will be sent SAVE THE DATE HALTON WOMEN'S PLACE AT THE presents presents Saturday, February 25, 2012 5:30pm Reception | 6:30pm Dinner $150 OAKVILLE CONFERENCE & BANQUET CENTRE Purchase a table of 8 before December 31st and save $200 per person (includes open bar) For further information please contact Carm Bozzo or Diane Boumeester r 905-332-1200, ext. 263 Gentlemen: Black Tie | Ladies: Black and/or White Preferred Exclusive Black Tie Ticket Sponsor ­ Greg Kuchma, Sales Representative, Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services White Gown Sponsor