The 86-year-old adult who was captured for stealing three pounds of rice in Santa Rosa de Cabal (Risaralda) has been at home since the day of the events, was linked to the Mayor’s service programs and is under the protection of his family. However, the Prosecutor’s Office reported that she has several records for similar situations.
The events for which her story went viral occurred last Friday, around 9:30 in the morning, when the police took her from a commercial premises where she had stolen the rice and took her to the station.
The outrage grew on social networks where there were multiple comments comparing what was stolen by her and what various politicians would have stolen.
According to what was reported by the Police, in the case of this older adult, the procedure was carried out at the request of the owner of the business premises, who assured – according to sources consulted by EL TIEMPO – that it was not the first time it had happened, which is why motivated his request that the authorities intervene in the case.
The authorities and the Mayor’s Office reported that that same day she was taken home and left in the hands of her family. However, the Prosecutor’s Office indicated that the older adult presents seven other entries for the crime of theft, situations that occurred in Bogotá, Chía and Santa Rosa de Cabal itself.
EL TIEMPO also learned that his place of residence is a residential complex in this municipality, where he lives under the care of his family.
Similarly, the mayor of Santa Rosa, Rodrigo Toro, indicated that they decided to link her to the Centro Vida program, in addition to providing psychosocial care to her and her family.
“We are already in the care process so that they can overcome this impasse and she receives all the care she needs,” said Pedro Camacho, senior citizen liaison in the municipality.
It was also established that she had been living in Santa Rosa for only three months, since she came from Pereira, where another of her seven children lives, who share her care.
According to several versions, and although it is not medically proven, she would suffer from the disorder known as kleptomania, which is characterized by taking foreign things and of little value. This is a psychiatric disorder that has no cure.
Carmen Cursio, doctor in gerontology, indicated that this process is derived from multiple factors and is not necessarily related to age. Cursio also pointed out that the best thing in these cases is for families to create support networks. “The best thing is to create a protective fence, tell the nearby neighbors about who the person is and in the places he frequents so that, when they see him, they take care of him,” she added.
He also recommended that families who have members with this same behavior not deprive them of their individual freedom, because “relating to others and going out on the street is healthy, promotes movement and is good, you just have to establish a network of care that in some places in Colombia it is facilitated by the neighborhood modes that exist in the neighborhoods”.
LAURA USEMA
FOR THE TIME
RISARALDA
