Home Aide Steals $50K From Elderly Glen Cove Woman: Police

A home health aide was arrested on Tuesday for stealing $50,000 from a 97-year-old Glen Cove woman, Glen Cove Police say.

According to authorities, 45-year-old Ridgewood resident Joanna I. Bugnacka forged and cashed checks under the name of the elderly woman she was caring for between Dec. 7, 2017 to Aug. 18. A total of 21 checks were cashed in the 97-year-old woman's name.

Authorities began an investigation into the thefts. Bugnacka was arrested inside the elderly woman's Glen Cove home on Tuesday at 1:24 p.m.

None of the stolen money has been recovered.

"This is a horrible example of a person deciding to steal from an elderly person she was hired to care for," Det. Lt. John Nagle said. "Thankfully the theft was discovered and an arrest was made before the victim's bank account was emptied."

Bugnacka was charged with second-degree grand larceny and third-degree forgery. She will be arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Image via Glen Cove Police