Nov 27, 2007 10:44 pm US/Central
Fort Worth Police Say Thieves Targeting Elderly
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Police are seeing an increase in thieves following senior citizens home from stores and robbing them.
It has happened at least four times during the last week in Fort Worth.
Elderly shoppers load their bags into their car and drive home, completely unaware that someone is following them.
"The first on my 86 years that I've had anything like this," said Emily Tatum.
Monday afternoon, 89-year-old O.T. Tatum drove his wife to the drug store. When they returned, a robber stopped in the middle of the street and attacked.
"He came up and knocked me over," Emily said."He grabbed [my purse] and I fell on the concrete out there."
"There was no way for me to get in front of him or to catch him," O.T. said. "By that time, that guy was in the car and right down this street."
The robber got away with Emily's purse, a total of $400 in cash and some credit cards. He dumped the purse in a motel room where a maid found it and turned it in.
Monday night, a Fort Worth officer returned Emily's driver's license and some of her credit cards that were found on the street.
It's the type of kindness that reminds the Tatum's of the good old days.
To protect yourself from this type of crime, police say you should be on high alert when you enter and exit your home. Carry a warning device, like a whistle or an air horn to use in an emergency.
If you think someone is following you, drive to a police station. If someone tries to steal your personal belongings, don't resist.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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