Employee Stole From Elderly Residents At Care Facility In Sonoma County: Police

SONOMA, CA — An employee is accused of stealing from residents at an elder care facility in Sonoma, according to authorities.

Susanne Powell, 59, was arrested on suspicion of burglary and theft from an elder or dependant adult, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies responded July 22 to a reported theft at the facility, which followed several months of residents’ items going missing, according to authorities.

Staff, residents and the Sonoma Police Department worked together to investigate, authorities said, and management installed a motion-activated camera in the room of a recently deceased resident.

The camera captured an employee entering the room and removing personal items, and Powell admitted to the theft and prior thefts, according to the sheriff’s office, which said a search of Powell's home resulted in the discovery of stolen jewelry and coins.

Powell was booked into county jail but has since been released, the sheriff’s office said.