Organizations looking out for Valley seniors

Eudor Schutte used his Lifeline device to summon help during a home invasion in January. Lifeline is one of several services looking out for senior's safety in Alberni

WAWMEESH G. HAMILTON/Alberni Valley News

There didn’t appear to be anything different about that January day.

Eudor Schutte, 84, was sitting in the living room of his modest, cosy Port Alberni home by himself, enjoying the early evening.

Schutte’s family members visit him from time to time, and that’s who he thought it was when he heard someone at his door.

But when Schutte answered the door a stranger barged his way through, forced Schutte to the floor and held a knife to his throat while he robbed him.

The former mill worker wasn’t strong enough anymore to fend off the thug, but he wasn’t entirely defenseless.

The assailant rummaged through a bedroom then fled, but unbeknownst to him Schutte pressed into action — literally.

Schutte’s daughter had convinced him awhile ago to use Lifeline medical alert service, which he activated by pressing a button on a device he wears on his wrist, much like a watch.

Schutte spoke to a Lifeline dispatcher over a transmitter box, and the dispatcher immediately summoned police to Schutte’s residence.

“My daughter got that for me in case I fell and broke my hip,” Schutte said. “I never used it before this but I’m glad I had it that day.”

More than 270 people in Port Alberni and the West Coast use Lifeline, program coordinator Sandi Lightfoot said.

“We already tell clients that they can use Lifeline for any emergency,” Lightfoot said. “But this is the first time I know of that it’s been used in a home invasion.”

Alberni Valley senior citizens are on edge after two other recent home invasions, but there are other local services looking out for their safety.

Block Watch operates out of the Port Alberni RCMP station and Community Policing Office at Harbour Quay.

According to the RCMP website, Block Watch is a program where neighbours watch out for neighbours. It aims to get citizens involved in discouraging and preventing crime at the local level.

As an organization, Block Watch has been in existence since 1986, RCMP Const.  Shelly Schedewitz said.

The program is relatively new to Port Alberni. Previously, there was one block that attended a Block Watch information meeting. Since the home invasions however another block has expressed an interest in starting with the program, Schedewitz said.

The premise behind the program is that neighbours know each other’s business. Your neighbours know who you are, what type of car you drive, and may be the first to notice a suspicious person at your door or window. A police officer patrolling your neighbourhood may not recognize a stranger in your yard — but your neighbours will.

“This is a way that police can work with the public,” Schedewitz said. “It’s a way to get more eyes watching for suspicious activity in neighbourhoods and report them to police.”

Residents should try and generate a neighbourhood critical mass before inquiring.

“This works well if a neighbourhood works as a whole,” Schedewitz said.

At a previous city council meeting, it was reported that a growing number of seniors are moving into Port Alberni.

And according to Statistics Canada, eight million people — or 25 per cent of the population — will be over the age of 65 by 2031.

Ninety per cent of seniors in Canada live independently while seven per cent are housed in facilities.

Stats Can also reports that violence against seniors increased by 20 per cent between 1998 and 2005.

Seniors are least likely to suffer violent crime, but are most at risk of suffering violence from a family member.

Citizens On Patrol is another group that is being vigilant since the recent home invasions.

The group also works with police, patrolling areas in the communities where a high number of instances of crime have occurred, COP president Eric Nermberg said.

“We watch for suspicious activity and report it to police for them to follow up on,” he said.

The members patrol in pairs either on foot or in vehicles and use maps and GPS to track where they’re going and have been. And they document everything they see extensively. Patrols also take place at night, Nermberg said.

The group has 30 members who come from different walks of life. The gender split is almost equal with a nod towards more men. “Some folk own businesses but most of us are retired,” Nermberg said.

The number of patrols and inquiries about them has remained steady since the home invasions in January. “We keep aware of where crimes occur and patrol more in those areas,” he said.

Interest in the program had been waning but new recruits have since been found, he added.

Residents should be conscious of who is at their door, and windows should be kept locked. There should be good visibility around property, and COP logos can be affixed to dwellings.

COP also patrols parking lots of local businesses keeping an eye out for cars that aren’t locked or have windows not closed. The group leaves a note for the car owner explaining what was found.

On patrol, volunteers also have the ability to check licence plates on vehicles they find parked or abandoned.

reporter@albernivalleynews.com