With Rosh Hashanah approaching police in the southern city of Eilat are busy with many acts of chessed, acts directed at the city’s senior citizen population.

Staff-Sergeants Roni Oknin, Tal Simchi and Yair Cohen are quite busy in fact, addressing the security and safety needs of the city’s elderly population towards educating resident to permit them to better protect themselves and their valuables. The public education addresses are in response to the alarming increase in purse snatching incidents and muggings, with the elderly being followed and attacked following a withdrawal from an ATM.

Working with social workers, police are visiting the homes of the city’s elderly population and panic buttons are being installed and other measures taken to assist them in protecting themselves and calling for assistance if such a situation arises. Other adjuncts being added to their homes are peepholes in doors, as well as no-slip strips in areas of the home that are viewed as high-risk for slipping to avoid accidents.

The officers involved have received many warm hugs, good wishes and much appreciation for their time and effort from a population that is all too often forgotten.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)