Protecting seniors from crime

[projekktor id=’19874′]

Crimes against senior citizens, including theft and fraud are on the rise as our population ages. The details of one of those crimes were read out in court this morning and Hamilton police are trying to arm senior citizens with information to help protect them from crime.

50 year old Denise Lavergne pleaded guilty to committing fraud against her 80 year old neighbour, Moyra Graham. Lavergne and Graham lived across the street from one another. Their relationship was described as close, almost mother-daughter like. But Graham fell ill, so she gave Lavergne her bank card and asked her to take care of bills and to feed her cats. Instead Lavergne started to take money for herself.

Lavergne made more than 100 cash withdrawals from Graham’s account; totalling just over $47 000. Police say this type of crime is all too common. “A lot of times it’s family members so there’s a trust factor there and when the trust factor is there, you’re not watching out maybe as much as you maybe should.”

Denise Lavergne has been sentenced to 3 years of probation, 150 hours of community service and ordered to pay restitution to Graham’s estate.