The detective phoned Art to tell him that they arrested a nurse’s aide from the other rehab facility where someone had stolen my credit card and had rung up $6,000 in purchases in the neighboring state of Indiana. The detective gave the name of the nurse’s aide to Art. I phoned Sharron, a nurse that I stayed in touch with, and asked her if she knew this person, the one who had stolen my credit card. She responded, “Oh, she is such a sweet lady - but maybe she isn’t.” I’m sure she is. She couldn’t operate unless she was in your good graces. I said to Sharron, “Do I know her?” Sharon said, “No, you never met her. She worked night shifts only.”
The detective wanted to get a statement from me and we set up an appointment to meet me at this rehab facility at 10:00 the following morning. I was in my wheelchair eagerly awaiting him, when I got his phone call postponing it until the next day. This was a great disappointment because I was looking forward to this excitement. When he did come the next day, he told me her defense was I gave her my credit card. I said, “Yeah, right.” And then realized that if he didn’t get the heavy sarcasm, I was agreeing with her (everybody I tell this story to, when I say I gave her the card, each person says, “yeah, right”). I assured him I never gave the card to anybody with the rare exception when someone is buying something for me. This handsome young detective told me about the arrest and I asked how he found her and the story matches the TV police stories pretty accurately. They checked the ATM camera and found a very clear picture of the person who put in my credit card to get the cash and he matched it against the ID photos of the employees at the rehab facility. The match was perfect. He showed it to the head nurse who immediately identified the picture.
He wanted me to write a statement saying I never gave her my card, but seeing the cast on my arm he said, “You’re a rightie I bet.” I said, “Yes, I can’t write it, but I can sign it." He phoned and got permission to write this statement himself and we worked on it and I signed it. He said, “I hope you stay with this because too often since the bank removes the fake charges the card-holder doesn’t go to the trouble of prosecuting.” I said, “I don’t like being a victim, don’t mess with me.” When I asked him why the ATM gave her $2,000, he said, “The card has a credit value to it and they charge against that amount.”
“By the way, here is another clue,” I told him. “Since she works night shifts only it gives her access to steal.” He said, “No, a lot of the nurses choose to work night time because it fits in with their life’s schedule.” The detective asked whether I would go to court if it came to that, probably next month. I said, “I’ll be in a wheelchair, but I’ll make every effort.”
He said he wants to make sure that her license is rescinded, that she can't work in nursing homes anymore victimizing helpless people. He is outraged that she is abusing a position of trust.
---Florence
Wahoo! This is great news! I'm so happy to hear someone was arrested, and that there's a diligent detective on the scene. That crook messed with the wrong person. You go, girl!
XOXO
Posted by: Laura | October 17, 2011 at 03:17 PM
Wow. What a story. And what a happy ending up to this point anyway.
I can't wait to hear the final verdict. I bet this 'nice' woman has been at this scam for ages.
Yuck.
Posted by: Ellen | October 18, 2011 at 11:34 AM
Sounds like you are surrounded by all sorts of good writing material there. Glad you got to the bottom of this! Hope everything else is going well.
xoxo
Posted by: beth | October 19, 2011 at 12:25 PM