Stealing from Old People?

Who would steal from old people? That's the question we asked when we saw the headline "Senior Center theft is under investigation" in the Dahlonega Nugget this week.

According to the front page story, over $1,000 in funds (and a quilt) are missing from the Lumpkin County Senior Center.

Now, we ask what happens to make someone suddenly go from caretaker of funds to thief? Does it start innocently? Does the culprit say,"Oh, I really need $100 to pay a bill. I'll just borrow the money and pay it back on payday." Or is it more sinister: "I'll take $100 and see if anyone notices." Or does he/she say, "They'll never miss this money and I really need it."

Whatever happens to turn a seemingly honest person into a thief is happening a lot more than one would expect. For instance, the Dawson County Clerk of Courts is in jail right now, serving four years of a ten year sentence for absconding with $140,000 in county money. Then there is the parent who stole $57,000 from an Atlanta PTA and the football booster club president in Walton County arrested for taking thousands of dollars in club funds.

Some will say that the poor economy is to blame for these thefts. Others will accuse the culprits of being greedy or moral compass deficient. Or maybe, as my grandmother used to say, "That person is just a bad seed."

In the case of the Lumpkin Senior Center theft, the lesson learned is simple: Thou Shalt Not Steal....especially from senior citizens.

Update: Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office is still investigating the theft from the Senior Center. The Director who resigned right after the second theft has been cleared by the Sheriff's office after she took and passed polygraph test.