ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Caregiver Accused Of Theft From Multiple Seniors
Latest Alleged Victim Is 93-Years-Old
Protecting Seniors From Caregiver Theft
Theft of jewelry and other valuables is a possibility whenever a stranger enters a senior’s home, and such articles are accessible. In a reported case, discussed below, a caregiver has been accused of theft of jewelry and valuables from multiple seniors, including most recently a 93-year-old man she worked for in-home. Whatever the property taken or size of financial elder abuse, under this broad statutory definition, any taking of any property from senior’s property “for a wrongful use or with intent to defraud,” or any assistance in such taking is a crime and grounds for civil liability of the person doing the taking and anyone assisting him or her. California Penal Code § 368. California broadly defines what constitutes financial elder or dependent adult abuse:
(a) “Financial abuse” of an elder or dependent adult occurs when a person or entity does any of the following:
(1) Takes, secretes, appropriates, obtains, or retains real or personal property of an elder or dependent adult for a wrongful use or with intent to defraud, or both.
(2) Assists in taking, secreting, appropriating, obtaining, or retaining real or personal property of an elder or dependent adult for a wrongful use or with intent to defraud, or both.
(3) Takes, secretes, appropriates, obtains, or retains, or assists in taking, secreting, appropriating, obtaining, or retaining, real or personal property of an elder or dependent adult by undue influence, as defined in Section 15610.70.
Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 15610.30.
In a recent sentencing, discussed below, a caregiver wired over $317,000 out of a senior’s account over the course of a year.. If you or a loved one is a victim of elder or dependent adult abuse or neglect in the San Francisco Bay Area call us today at (415)441-8669. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
Caregiver Charged With Theft Of Jewelry And Other Valuables
In a recently reported case, [1] an in-home caregiver accused of stealing $142K in jewelry from her elderly clients is facing a new charge connected to a third client. According to the local Police Department’s probable cause statement, the theft occurred at the 93-year-old victim’s home. Police said the victim’s granddaughter contacted police and said several swords and daggers, collected by her late grandfather over the years, had been stolen from a cabinet. The collection of swords and daggers is worth more than $13,000. Investigators took fingerprints from the cabinet and identified the man’s caregiver as a possible suspect. The caregiver was booked on the additional charges and all charges are pending.
Protecting Seniors From Fraud
Always do your own background check on any person before hiring them to work for an older loved one in their home. Ask for references and check them. Before any person shows up to work in the senior’s home, be sure to put away all jewelry, silver, valuable keepsakes and articles, and cash in a place that the employee cannot access – out of the senior’s house entirely. Keep all confidential information like bank account numbers, Social Security number, PINs, and other financial information out of eyesight of any caregiver or other employee or stranger in a senior’s home. Always monitor a senior loved one’s checking account; take a look at it online every day if you can. Never, ever give a caregiver a Power of Attorney, credit card, or a blank check. Stay involved in any senior loved one’s life so a stranger does not have the opportunity for this kind of theft and exploitation.
Contact Us
If you sense any kind of abuse of an older loved one anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area, call us right away. Ingrid M. Evans has years of experience in representing seniors and their families against abusers of any kind, including in-home caregivers. You can reach us at (415) 441-8669, or by email at info@evanslaw.com. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. was not involved in the case in any way.
