THUNDER BAY - An individual employed as a personal support worker is facing several charges after city police investigated recurring thefts against a vulnerable person.
The Thunder Bay Police Service received a report about an elderly person who suspected they were the victim of ongoing thefts from their residence in March.
As a result of an investigation, a suspect was identified and then arrested on Friday.
The 45-year-old individual is charged with eight counts of unlawfully being in a dwelling and one count of theft under $5,000.
The accused has been released from custody with conditions and a future court appearance date.
A second person has also been charged with unlawfully being in a dwelling.
In a news release, police said this incident demonstrates an issue "where personal support workers, or imposters, exploit their unsupervised access to the homes of elderly or otherwise vulnerable individuals. Police urge family members and friends to speak to those who may be vulnerable to being targeted and to be vigilant if there is suspicion of wrongdoing."
Anyone who believes they were the victim of a similar incident or has information that could help police is asked to contact Det.-Const. Kevin Middleton at 807-684-1039. Tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com.
More information on how to protect against elder abuse is available here.
It is Newswatch policy not to name people facing criminal accusations when we are unlikely to follow the case to its conclusion in the courts.
