New police unit for crimes against seniors

Colorado Springs Police are keeping a special watch on it’s oldest residents. In July, they formed a special crimes against elders unit.

Sgt. Steve Noblitt said most of their cases so far revolve around money. They are also targeting crimes including theft, assault and negligence.

“One of the very sad things is so many people think because people are older they are stupid. They’re not stupid. They’re not stupid,” said Jan Chenoweth, 74.

Chenoweth both volunteers and receives help from Silver Key, a senior organization in Colorado Springs.

Chenoweth said unfortunately she has had to help a friend get out of a money scam before it was too late.

“She was not a victim because she told me. I told her to put a halt to it. ‘You’re not going to do that. Uh uh,'” she said.

“(Seniors) are very trusting. They don’t think somebody might take advantage of them,”said Lorri Orwig, director of resource development at Silver Key.

Orwig believes the new police unit will help give seniors a bigger voice.

She said they also look for signs things might not be right.

“Sudden changes in their financial situation, things missing from their home, and people have befriended them who may not have before,” said Orwig.

Orwig said the special investigator in the elders unit said 75 percent of the cases included some sort of financial fraud.