AN 84-year-old is just one of 64 silver-haired criminals convicted for crimes in the last 12-months.

Drug supply and possession, harassment and outraging public decency are just some of the crimes committed by the "Saga louts."

Those collared by the cops are aged between 65 and 84, figures reveal. 

Theft ranked as the number one crime committed in this age bracket in south Cumbria, followed by assault, having a dangerous dog and harassment.

In the west of the county theft was also the top crime, followed by assault and causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress.

The "grey crime" trend appears to be an international one. 


Hugh Tomlinson Hugh Tomlinson, deputy chief officer of Age UK South Lakeland, said they had seen a massive increase in the amount of elderly people seeking welfare advice and being directed to food banks in the last 18 months.

He added that it was an issue across south and west Cumbria with 42 per cent of pensioners saying they were worried how they could manage on their current income.

Mr Tomlinson added: "There is a reason that petty crime like theft such as shoplifting could be happening. In south Cumbria there seems to be a general consensus that the biggest worry the elderly have here is finding someone to clean their pool but this is just not the case.

"For the first time here at Age UK we have had to set up a debt advice service and over the last 18-months have that we have been directing to food banks. We have also seen a 37 per cent increase in the number of people seeking welfare benefits has just gone up and up and up. 

"A ride in theft cases could be as a direct result of people being in dire straits. But other crimes are simply down to there being a mix of people in every age bracket who are nice or just not nice.

"The majority of elderly people are on a fixed income yet rent and bills and other outgoings continue to rise. It's not like they have  coping mechanism like you are I by simply taking another job to earn extra money. That's just not an option to some aged 75.

"There are some who are going without food or heating yet have £3,000 tucked a way in the bank in case the sky falls in. They live in destitution and then end up in A&E.

"There could be some crimes down to undiagnosed early onset dementia where they simply forget to pay but in general I think crimes such as theft are because people are desperate."

South Cumbria superintendent said: "Cumbria Police work to keep people safe and remove from our communities anyone who poses a threat or causes harm. Our teams of officers and detectives work hard to trace these offenders and bring them to justice, and age is no deterrent to prosecution."

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