Stealing Money, Homes From Elders on the Rise

By Annie Guest for ABC News

Queensland, AU.-The crime of stealing money and even homes from elderly relatives is on the rise, and authorities suspect the financial crisis is fuelling it....steeling from elderly people is becoming more common.

"We've seen an increasing trend in cases of elder abuse where we've been asked to try and recover for elderly people, clients of ours, assets, money houses, which have been stolen, misappropriated, usually by family members," he said.

"Statistically we're seeing an increase in the order of 15 to 20 per cent per annum."

One law firm has called on State Governments to beef up the laws surrounding crimes against the elderly.

But Ms Jeter says what is needed is a system similar to that addressing child abuse.

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