Columbia Heights, Minnesota, Seniors Have Nintendo Wii Stolen

Seniors Hoping for a Miracle This Christmas

I am police dispatcher for communities in the north metro Twin Cities area. On Wednesday, December 3rd, I took a call that stuck with me for my entire eight hour shift. This rarely occurs and when it does I feel compelled to do something about it. It is stories like these that I have a hard time separating work from the rest of my life.

I received a call from service from a therapy coordinator at the Crestview Lutheran Nursing Home in Columbia Heights. The female told me that she need to make a theft report. I took down all of her contact information and then asked one last question, "what was stolen?" I never anticipated the response that I got. It turns out that the senior residents of the building had their Nintendo Wii game console stolen the night before.

I was blown away that, number one, a Nintendo Wii was being used in the nursing home and furthermore that someone would steal it from a nursing home. I was distraught, angry and it consumed me all day. Something has to be done. The female caller went on to tell me that a few times a week, the citizens of Crestview get together and have bowling tournaments on the Wii and sometimes some sort of leagues are held too.

The citizens absolutely are in love with their Wii and are devastated to have it missing. It sounds like this is "fountain of youth" type item within the nursing home. I'm sure for some of the citizens this is their only form of physical fitness. I would imagine that it must also make them feel youthful again.