Bogus HSE 'staff' preying on elderly
ELDERLY WOMAN'S HOUSE IS BURGLED
Wednesday August 25 2010
GOREY Community Social Services Council has issued a warning to local people about the risk of 'distraction burglaries' against the elderly, after the home of an elderly lady being burgled in Gorey.
A person arrived at the front door of the woman's house claiming to be from the HSE. While they detained her at the front door, another individual entered the house through the rear, and burgled the house.
'Crime targeting the elderly is especially cruel,' said a spokesperson for Gorey Social Services Council, and he appealed to local neighbourhoods and communities to help keep an eye on their elderly neighbours.
'All legitimate callers such as HSE nurses and utility workers have identification and people should never allow access unless they are completely confident of who the caller is,' he said. ' We will be warning our clients about criminals claiming to be from the HSE.'
The Social Services Council has just finished installing another fifty Emergency Response alarms in North Wexford using grant aid allocated under the Scheme of Community Support for Older People.
The scheme which has now finished, allowed community groups to receive grant aid for security equipment and personal monitored alarms. The Council has installed hundreds of alarms in elderly homes over the years and it is advising the holders to use the system even when answering the door to any unexpected callers.
'People need to get in the habit of keeping the back doors and windows locked when they are in other parts of the house, simply to improve security in the home,' he commented.
' Even if the householder is expecting a caller, they should ask a friend, neighbour or family member to be present when the caller is due to arrive,' he added.
The Council urged people to visit their elderly neighbours in an attempt to tackle the isolation felt by those living on their own and to provide a sense of security.
'Any small neighbourly tasks and a constant check on their security, making sure they are okay would be appreciated,' he said. 'As a Society we cannot tolerate such crime targeting the elderly.'
- FINTAN LAMBE
