Updated 02/03/2012 05:57 PM
Family arrested for stealing from parents
A family of four from Loudonville has been charged with stealing from two of their own family members. As our Erin Connolly tells us, not only were the victims elderly, both were deaf and one was blind.
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COLONIE, N.Y. -- Lt. Robert Winn of the Colonie Police Department said, “Anytime the elderly or the disabled are victimized, it's disturbing to us. In this case we have both of those factors and the compounding factor that it's their own family members involved in this.”
Margaret and Patrick Ryan, and their two sons, Kevin and Daniel, were arrested this week, after police say they found out the group used a stolen credit card to spend at least $8,000 over the last six months. That credit card belonged to Margaret's mother and father. Both are in their 80s and both are deaf. One is also blind. The victims and the defendants told police they all live together at a house in Loudonville.
Lt. Winn said, “We felt it important to make an arrests soon as we could because they lived with the victims and we were afraid they were going to continue to be victimized.”
Many of the alleged purchases were made at this Price Chopper on Albany Shaker Road. The four Ryans are also accused of hiding the credit card statements.
Lt. Winn said, "So they were using this card as if it was their own and going about their daily lives using this for whatever they needed.”
Thursday, investigators showed up at the victims’ house for a follow up. Inside, they found Margaret and her son, Kevin. The two were then rearrested for violating an order of protection banning the defendants from having contact with the victims
At Colonie Senior Services Center, there's a financial resource center designed to help seniors avoid getting scammed. But the executive director says it's unfortunate the most vulnerable population gets taken advantage of.
Ed Neary, the executive director of Colonie Senior Service Centers, said, “It's tragic and both of them with disabilities that they have to deal with and then to not be able to trust their family members."
The four Ryans are charged with criminal possession of stolen property and petit larceny. Margaret, Patrick and Kevin each face an additional charge of conspiracy. They were arraigned and all pleaded not guilty.
Lt. Winn said, “It's despicable. The whole circumstances of this case has disturbed a lot of the investigators working on this and they'll continue to work hard on this."
Police say the four could face more charges.