ELDERLY folks are increasingly the "soft targets" of robbers and thieves, according to the police's half-year report card, which shows a 25% spike in such crimes against the silver-haired.

Police said 145 elderly fell prey to robberies and snatch theft, against 116 in the first half-year in 2007.Generally, they were robbed at common areas of HDB estates in the day when they were alone going about their daily routine.

Police have arrested three serial offenders responsible for at least 40 cases of robberies and snatch thefts committed against elderly victims.Other areas of concern include rising phone scams and opportunistic thefts from parked vehicles.

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Seventy elderly were also cheated of valuables like handphones and jewellery in various scams. The figure was 62 a year ago.