A home nurse aide has been charge with allegedly stealing from an elderly client.
Caitlyn Burton, 21, of Somerset SOUTH BRUNSWICK -- A home nurse aide has been accused of stealing from a client diagnosed with dementia, police said in a statement.
Caitlyn Burton, 21, is accused of stealing and fraudulently using the credit card of an elderly Dayton woman for whom Burton cared. Burton is also accused of stealing a small computer tablet from the woman's home.
Burton surrendered to police Monday night and was charged with theft, theft of a credit card, and fraudulent use of a credit card.
Relatives of the elderly woman contacted police to report the missing tablet and "suspicious activity" on the woman's credit card, police said in the statement.
According to authorities, an investigation revealed that between Aug. 8 and Aug. 25, the woman's credit card "had been used for cash withdrawals 12 times" and that "the money had been taken from various locations in Irvington and Union."
No cash withdrawals had been made six months prior to the hiring of the home aide, police said.
"This case came together because an alert relative from out of state noticed irregularities and contacted us," said South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka. "Investigators pieced the documents together and charged the aide. Our senior citizens are valued members of our community and we will do all we can to ensure their safety."
The probe found more than $1,000 had been stolen from the woman's bank account in August.
Police said they recovered the missing computer pad.
Authorities issued Burton a complaint, and she is currently awaiting her first court appearance.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.