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I was a caregiver for a client for over a month ago. I worked for her for almost 6 months. She had a key safe in her television case in her apartment. Her apartment is very small and is on the bottom level. She leaves her doors unlock when she leaves her apartment several mornings a week to go to the "coffee hour" in the complex. She now has a new caregiver. Money is missing out of her key safe now. She is accusing me of stealing it. She says I was the only one that knew where it was. She had me go into it before to look for important papers out of it for her while I was working for her. Many of the people that live in the complex have stated to me before that money has been taken out of their apartments as well as medicine. I do not see how I can be charged for stealing her money? She said that the police were there to take finger prints. Since I have opened it for her in the past about 2 months ago will I be charged stealing her money? Thank for any help!

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cops arent interested in anything that doesnt result in a bale of seized assets or cash for their arsenals . they have some training pertaining to demented or just crotchety elders screaming theft tho . paranoia aside , the state has to have to have iron evidence to convict someone and thats a tall order to fill . they dont prosecute crap they cant win . my advice ; dont give it another thought .
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There probably wasn't any money, she's just losing it mentally. Keep calm and carry on.
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Yep, as Kedwards said, it's probably dementia.

Just yesterday I discovered that even though I haven't been to MIL's house in months, she has been saying I'm stealing her cat food. Claims I started sneaking some out when my DD was staying there as the nighttime caregiver, and she thinks I still am.

Hubby laughed and said that explains why I rarely eat what I fix for dinner, I'm full up on cat food! I laughed right back and said, maybe he needs to look closer at that tater tot casserole, maybe he's full of c LOL!
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There isn't much of a way for them to prove your guilt or you to prove your innocence. Police usually don't even try to figure out who burglarized individual homes, so I don't know if they will in this case. It is one of those unfortunate situations where someone was looking to put blame.

I remember a few years ago that someone had a dog with heartworms. The dog had no energy and could barely breathe. She died one day. For some reason the owner decided I must have poisoned it and told this to my other neighbors. What hat he pulled this conclusion from is beyond me -- probably the one he sat on. All I could do is scratch my head, because I am one of the biggest animal lovers in the world. You can't control what people think or say. The only thing you can do is say "I would never do something like that" when anyone says something.

Some people are just nasty like that.
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All of you had great answers! It's just too bad that there are so many of us that have similar situations where someone takes someone else's word without getting the facts first! Some people seem to like to jump to conclusions, spread untruths, and then come up with some comment like "Oh, I didn't know" - how unfortunate. I do agree that it is hard to be a caregiver to someone who is not a relative because it makes it easy when something happens, they're the first to be blamed. Even family members who don't help out, the one person that does all the work gets blamed when something goes wrong. All I can say is keep doing the best you can and things eventually work out - usually for the best. God bless all of you and have a great day!
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This happened to me as I cared for an elderly woman who accused me of pulling her hair and stealing her clothes. Fortunately the agency knew she had dementia and just asked me about the last time I saw her. Don't be overly concerned about this lady accusing you. Even though the police took fingerprints, you have already admitted you opened the safe per HER request and unless she can prove you stole anything, I think it will just go away. Besides, other people have had things stolen that you did not care for, and the police will recognize that. Try to document anything you do at a client's house especially if you open a locked safe. Maybe a camera recording or cell phone...
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Many years ago when we were taking care of my grandfather he used to accuse all of us of stealing his money. One day I helped him look all over the house and we never did find it. I told him to just let it go and I took him to get a haircut. When we got to the Barber shop he took off his cap, which he always wore, unless sleeping or getting a haircut, and lo and behold there was his missing money. I know what is happening to you is not funny but I wouldn't get to concerned because the police are overly burdened with real crime and don't have time to follow this one. However this should be a lesson learned. Never have any thing to do with someone's safe or personal money. They need to take care of that themselves. And if they give you money for shopping etc, make sure you have a paper trail signed by them in case of any question. I take care of my 98 year old Dad and, believe me, I keep meticulous records when it comes to his money because I have family members that don't do a darn thing to help but question every penny I spend. Never take anything for granted because people are unpredictable and just plain mean sometimes.
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Get a lawyer ASAP.
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The dog thing was totally out of the blue. The only thing I could figure was that the neighbor didn't know me and I had rabbits. That must make me guilty, right? The guy wasn't the brightest light shining, so I quickly let is roll off.

It would be unusual for police to even do prints these days in a home. The sad truth is police will try to figure things out if it is a business, but not a home. Even if they do lift prints and find yours, you've been in the key safe before, so it would explain any prints. Just tell the truth and you should be okay.

I wonder if the woman may have hidden the money from herself. My mother has a habit of blaming my SIL for certain things -- not theft, but drains stopping up and messes made. The truth is that my mother does it herself, but can't admit that. So SIL gets blamed, even if she hasn't been around in a year! Go figure.
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You can contact an attorney. Make a statement to the police if they ask you and be honest. Since she leaves her door unlocked, has a different caregiver now then I don't see how you can be blamed. She would have noticed money (if she had any) was missing before a month was up. This is a tough situation. I advise workers not to go into a safe, purse etc. even if the client asks you. I tell them it's against my policy. I hope things work out.
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