An aged care employee has been charged after allegedly stealing a debit card belonging to a 104-year-old man and withdrawing thousands of dollars.
Queensland Police will allege the woman stole the man’s debit card through her employment as a carer at a Redland Bay aged care facility, using it to make purchases and cash withdrawals between August 19 and 21.
The investigation began when another staff member reported the alleged theft on behalf of the elderly resident, who had noticed his card was missing.
Police allege the 32-year-old Birkdale woman made 40 unauthorised transactions totalling $30,000.
She was arrested on October 28 and charged with 40 counts of stealing. She is expected to face Cleveland Magistrates Court on November 11.
South Brisbane District Bayside Crime Group Detective Inspector Wayne Francis described the allegations as “despicable”.
“It’s an abuse of trust between a carer and a patient,” Detective Inspector Francis said.
He confirmed the woman was no longer employed at the facility and said further inquiries were continuing.
Detective Inspector Francis urged the public to remain vigilant for signs of elder abuse.
“In this case, the card was noticed to be missing and that’s what raised the alarm,” he said.
“If you have an aged relative or a loved one and they say something’s out of place … please ask questions, look into it, as the facility did in this case.”
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli also condemned the alleged offending.
“It’s important that we have a system in place that can protect people when they are at their most vulnerable,” Crisafulli said.
“Anyone who would compromise someone in that hour of their life is a pretty ordinary human being.”
Images: Queensland Police Service
