Crimes Against Senior Citizens Up In Recent Months

Tuesday,  June 16, 2009 3:23 PM

Updated: Tuesday,  June 16, 2009 6:54 PM

Video
COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an average month, there are between 55 and 60 crimes involving senior citizens, but data analyzed by 10TV showed that rate has spiked recently.

In April, police reports showed that there were 110 crimes involving senior citizens, and those numbers have continued to stay high, CrimeTracker 10's Angela An reported.

One of the incidents in April occurred at a home in Whitehall.

SPECIAL SECTION: CrimeTracker 10

According to police, an armed man kicked in a 74-year-old man's door and forced him to the floor.  A short time after the robbery, surveillance video at a Lowe's store on East Broad Street showed two men using the man's stolen credit cards, An reported.

The victim said he has since reinforced his home with better security, but the men responsible for the crime remain at-large.

Also in April, a 74-year-old woman had her purse snatched while she walked through a Kroger store parking lot. When the woman tried to fight the man off, he knocked her to the ground. She later needed eight stitches to close a wound in her scalp.

Crime Stoppers last week released surveillance videos that showed two men using the victim's stolen credit cards at several locations.

The men have not been apprehended.

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrests of the men in both crimes.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 614-645-8477, or e-mail them by using their Web site.  Text tips can be sent to "274637" with key word "TIP125."

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.

Related Stories:

June 12, 2009: Tips Sought In Parking Lot Purse Snatching

Sign Up For Free E-Mail Alerts