Families stepping up to make pandemic easier for areas elderly

        Family members have done a lot for their elders these past several months as we battle the COVID-19 coronavirus. That plays out well for efforts in crime prevention in many ways.
        Many seniors have been depending on their children and grandchildren to get groceries and run other errands so seniors may stay safely at home. These extra visits to the seniors’ homes have had a positive impact on crime prevention efforts as criminals see the increased traffic, making the crooks less likely to target those seniors’ homes.
        The increased interactions between the elderly and their younger family members are also likely to decrease chances the seniors may fall for scams. In turn, this may be reducing chances a senior may lose his or her life savings.
        It’s a shame we have had to be more vigilant this past year when it comes to family get-togethers, especially around the holidays. While many of us had to cancel or severely curtail these family gatherings, it may be somewhat of a consolation that the seniors are able to see family members more often each week because the younger family members are dropping off food items and other staples.
        I talked to one of our Neighborhood Watch members recently who told me someone she knew was about to fall for a scam, but that was averted because a family member who was dropping off groceries learned of the issue and stopped it before any money was lost.
        On another note, I don’t usually cover more than one topic at a time in these columns, but I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t take an opportunity to give a shout-out to Lake Township PD Officers Kelly Clark and Rachel Caputo. These two officers did a tremendous job in collecting non-perishable food items and cash to be donated to Lake Local Schools for their Glider Pack Program. This program provides food for students at times they are not in school, such as weekends and holiday breaks.
        For the holiday project the previous year, the two collected items to benefit animals in the area. Hats off to these two great officers for a job well done!
        This article is a public service from the Community Policing/Crime Prevention Division of the Lake Township Police Department. Township residents may obtain further information on crime prevention and public safety topics by contacting Ron Craig, crime prevention specialist/community policing officer, at 419-481-6354.