Based on increasing reports that our elders are committing more crimes, it seems that Grandma can't be trusted anymore. The Buffalo News reports that a 61 year old, former church business officer is scheduled to be sentenced for bilking her church out of over a quarter million dollars. What's worse yet, is the fact that the judge in the case placed sentencing conditions on the granny, which would base sentencing upon the amount of money the lady repaid before the sentencing hearing. To date, it appears that granny could only scare up $100,000 of the estimated $280,000 which she had taken. The judge has ordered the lady to sell her Canadian cottage and to dip into her retirement funds, in order to pay back more of the money.

It's a sign of the times, which is global in scope. Japanese officials have reported that crime by elders is increasing at an alarming rate in their own country. The Associated press reports: "Elderly crimes (in Japan) rose 4.2 percent in 2007 from a year earlier, though the total number of people arrested fell 4.8 percent..."

Could it be that our senior populations are growing more desperate in tough times? Is it simply a matter of the criminal element growing older? I'm not entirely sure of the causes, but I know one thing for certain. I find it a bit unnerving to think that people who should be rocking on the porch while telling stories of the good old days, are now taking to the streets, robbing our neighbors and causing general mayhem.

Well, perhaps it's not quite that bad...

It's cute to tell the world that you're leaving on a week-long vacation, isn't it? Especially if you're a popular mommy blogger who has a wide following. I mean, who wouldn't want to know that you're going on the vacation of lifetime and will be out of touch for a week?

Well thieves apparently love it! I've long thought that sites like Twitter are a gold mine for criminals. So many users of Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and other social networking sites have absolutely no filter, and tell the world where they are, when they're there, and when they're coming back. They're so happy to share every detail about their lives and what they're doing, and you better believe someone is listening and taking notes.

What a perfect setup for someone who wants to break into their houses and steal their things. It's not hard to find out someone's address, even when they take precautions to conceal it. Ever heard of Google Street View? It gives you nice street level pictures of houses in metropolitan areas. Take about casing the joint with just a click of your mouse!

Social networking users need to understand that no one really wants to know their every move. My day will go on if I don't know what you had for breakfast or where you're going with your kids tonight. I don't need to know when your vacation is scheduled, nor when your next doctor's appointment is. Protect yourself and your family, because you don't know who is reading your updates and planning a crime against you.

Tracy L. Coenen, CPA, MBA, CFE performs fraud examinations and financial investigations for her company Sequence Inc. Forensic Accounting, and is the author of Essentials of Corporate Fraud.