Anti-Crime Unit Offers TLC to Elderly : Philadelphia: Two police officers focus on fraud against older people and on abuses in nursing and boarding homes.

The call came at 3 a.m.

Eighty-year-old Nellie, who was home alone, was told that her son was in the hospital but that he was OK.

Unfortunately, his car had been towed and needed fixing, the caller said, adding that he could do the repairs for $135. He showed up at her home, and Nellie gave him the money.

Nellie, who asked that her last name not be used, said she realized too late that her son had not had the car that night.

The police officers she called took a report and handed it to the Crimes Against the Retired and Elderly unit, which focuses solely on crimes against older people.

Officer Louis Sgro had heard about the towing scam before. The department warned people through the news media and agencies that serve senior citizens. Eventually, a suspect was arrested and charged with multiple offenses.

“The elderly are the most picked upon members of society,” Sgro said. “Those who are neglected or abused--it’s the elderly who are affected. Who takes a beating as far as financial scams? Over 90% of scam victims are elderly, and most of them are women.”

The CARE unit began with three officers in 1992 with a focus only on scams, according to Detective Rosemary DiLacqua. During its first year, officers investigated 267 incidents, arrested 216 suspects and cleared 253 cases.

Since then, the unit has been reduced to two officers, but it has expanded its investigations to include nursing- and boarding-home abuse as well as fraud.

Srgo said the greatest increase has been in cases involving family members who physically or emotionally abuse or neglect their parents or grandparents.

Having one unit handle the crimes against a certain age group has helped put the incidents in perspective, Sgro said.

“If someone calls our unit and says, ‘My credit card was stolen by someone I know,’ we want to know how they met them and who that person is and see if that case matches another across the city,” Sgro said. “Most departments would take the information and tell the victim to simply call and cancel the card and that’s it.”

New York, Los Angeles and Miami all have departments to handle specific crimes against the elderly, such as fraud and theft, but none handles the range covered in Philadelphia.

Police in Maryland and Delaware are in the process of developing a unit similar to CARE, as are law enforcement personnel in Toronto.

As for the elderly themselves, DiLacqua said, they are hurt more by a purse snatching or robbery because they are on limited incomes and have more trouble dealing with the emotional problems.

That becomes apparent when crime victims gather for support meetings, where they are known only by their first names.

Nellie’s friend Ida was hit in the head by a group of young purse snatchers. Her wounds were severe enough to require stitches.

“It’s something I will never forget,” Ida said. “I got the $40 back, but it’s always on my mind. I’m always looking behind me now.”

Janet Lemoine, director of the Northwest Victim Services in Philadelphia, said the CARE unit works closely with agencies offering services to victims.

Seniors who become crime victims are quickly referred to a support group, and claims are filed to compensate them for their financial losses, she said. Detectives keep track of victims’ scheduled court appearances to ensure that they know when to arrive and what to expect.

Nationwide figures show elderly citizens are least likely to be targets of violent crime, personal theft and household crime, said Tiffany Dean, an information specialist at the U.S. Department of Justice. Since 1971, the rate of violent crime against older people has dropped 61% and continues to decrease, she said.

But, DiLacqua said, older people, particularly women, are far more susceptible to scam artists and theft by deception. The federal department does not keep figures on fraud.

“They’re not greedy; they’re not stupid,” DiLacqua said by way of explanation. “This group is from a different time where, when somebody asked for help, you gave it.”