Editorial: Penalties must deter menaces

While All Black Zac Guildford's drinking issue was the headline news yesterday, it was a story about a man who police say is targeting elderly and vulnerable people in Hawke's Bay which was most disturbing.

Described as "shrewd" and "cunning" this low-life befriends, follows, threatens, intimidates, makes sexual advances and steals from people who are already marginalised in our society. People who don't like to complain, don't like to make a fuss. Some who have psychiatric issues.

It seems that every week our pensioners, our vulnerable, are under attack from one avenue or another.

If they're not losing their life savings through the collapse of careless and greedy finance companies, they're fending off aggressive door-to-door salesman, being taken in by slick telemarketers or scammed through the post or phone, often from overseas.

In a word it is, disgusting. And one can only hope in this age of advanced communications that the law will keep pace with new developments. By that I mean hand down appropriately stiff penalties to those caught taking advantage of our parents and grandparents at a time of life when they are managing their final years - and should be able to enjoy them.

Unfortunately many of our elderly are isolated. Either living on their own, or with no immediate family in the area. This can lead to loneliness.

A voice on the end of the phone prepared to talk for a few minutes makes their day. These scumbags who prey on them, know this only too well.

For family members it becomes a major concern when elderly parents make major financial decisions without due consideration, will not listen to reason, will not accept that if it's too good to be true, it usually is.

But it is difficult for an elderly person struggling to make ends meet to keep a clear head when confronted with a barrage of mail, an in-your-face door-to-door salesman, or a smooth-as telephone manner offering easy money.

While these criminals are no less deserving of our scorn, they are not as overt as our Hastings low-life.

Let's hope the police catch him quickly. Personally I'd like to put him in the stocks and give him a public flogging as a warning to all who prey on our vulnerable.