Hopefully everyone had a fun-filled Halloween. I had a great time sitting on the front porch of our home handing out treats. I apologize if I scared anyone in my “Monster Carpenter” outfit. My wife tells me I really don’t need a costume to scare anyone. I am not sure what she means by that? Also, the big black spider that surprised many of our visitors was my son’s idea. Any complaints should be directed to him!

This month’s column will be devoted to a topic I will refer to as “Caregiver theft.” Many police and social service professionals call this “the crime of the 21st century.” It occurs when a person entrusted with the care of an elderly person, or the care of a person with a physical or mental disability, abuses that trust by stealing or otherwise taking financial advantage of the elderly or disabled person. We see a steady stream of complaints about this sinister form of crime. An example of a typical Caregiver Theft crime involved an elderly person who gave their life savings — a substantial sum of cash — to a “family friend” who promised to hold the cash for the elderly victim in his safe. This family friend also got the victim to grant him power of attorney “to help pay the bills” and was able to write checks from the victim’s checking account. This checking account was where the victim’s retirement check, and only source of income, was deposited every month. Police were called when checks written by the victim began to bounce. Once we were called, it didn’t take long to discover what happened. The family friend confessed and was arrested. We discovered that the thefts had been occurring for several years and that over $250,000 was stolen. When arrested, the family friend had none of the victim’s money left and had no means to repay the victim. Luckily, the victim still had a source of income from the monthly retirement check. Many victims are not so lucky.

Most Caregiver Theft is committed by someone known to the victim. It could be a relative, a family friend, or a caregiver such as a nurse’s aide or paid companion. The thefts can be as simple as taking money from a wallet or as complex as having the victim unwittingly signing over property to the suspect. These crimes generally occur over time, start out small, and then increase in frequency and amount as the suspect becomes bolder when their crimes are not immediately discovered.

If you think you, or a family member is being victimized watch for these warning signs:

n A caregiver is attempting to isolate the victim from family and friends. This gives the caregiver more control over the victim’s life and prevents other relatives or friends from spotting the crime.

n Caregivers having an unwelcome or improper interest in the victim’s financial affairs.

n The Caregiver asking to borrow money. Many cases of theft begin with this simple request.

n Sudden expensive purchases made by a caregiver with little apparent means to make the purchase.

n Recent additions of signatures to bank accounts, credit cards, or other financial instruments.

n Sudden change in bank account activity or abnormally large withdrawals.

n Recent or unexplained changes in a person’s Will or financial interests.

n Appearance of a stranger who begins a close relationship with the victim and offers to help with financial duties.

How can you avoid being a victim or having a relative become a victim? Here are some simple tips that may help you protect yourself or a vulnerable relative:

n If you need help with financial duties, chose a close, trustworthy relative or friend you have known for many years. Be selective!

n Be careful of giving power of attorney over your finances. If you need to grant this power to someone, make sure healthcare instructions and financial limits are listed in the power of attorney document. If possible, get legal advice before you sign anything!

n Have more than one person helping with financial duties and decisions. This creates a simple check and balance system that is difficult to beat.

n Check credit rating and bank account information frequently to guard against theft.

n Screen caregivers and check references. Most police departments provide criminal background checks for a small fee. These can be very valuable in choosing the right person as a caregiver.

n If you are a relative of a vulnerable person, stay in close touch with the person and keep involved in the person’s financial dealings.

If you think you or a relative is a victim of Caregiver Theft, call your local police department immediately. A phone call can save the assets, health, safety, and dignity of an elderly person or an adult with a disability. The sooner we can get involved, the more damage we can prevent. Other local community resources available are the Niagara County Office for the Aging and the Dale Association. These organizations offer a number of valuable services and can assist with obtaining an acceptable and reliable caregiver to give you peace of mind.

Larry Eggert is chief of police for the City of Lockport. Contact him at 439-6633 or chiefeggert@elockport.com.