A Long Island home health aide was hired to care for an 80-year-old woman and her disabled adult daughter inside their East Setauket home. Police say nearly $10,000 in jewelry disappeared while she was working there.
Jackquilin Smith, 40, of Medford, was arrested Friday after family members noticed jewelry missing and contacted police, according to News 12 Long Island.
Smith worked for Homewatch CareGivers, a Hicksville-based agency, and had been assigned to the home of an 80-year-old woman and her 58-year-old daughter, who has a degenerative neurological disorder, the station reported.
Investigators said jewelry valued at about $9,850 was taken from the residence between late April and late May. Smith was charged with third-degree grand larceny.
The Family Noticed Jewelry Was Missing
WATCH NEWS 12 VIDEO: Home health aide accused of stealing nearly $10K in jewelry from East Setauket family
The case began when relatives realized pieces of jewelry were gone from the home and called police. Daily Voice, citing Suffolk County Police, reported that Smith was assigned to the home while caring for the mother and daughter.
Police said the thefts happened over several weeks, from late April through late May. The reports do not identify the victims by name or list the individual pieces of jewelry that were reported missing.
Police Arrested Smith At Her Medford Home
Following an investigation by Sixth Squad detectives and Sixth Precinct Investigative Unit officers, police arrested Smith at her residence on Matsunaye Drive in Medford at about 3 p.m. Friday, Daily Voice reported. Smith was held overnight at the Fourth Precinct and was scheduled to be arraigned Saturday at First District Court in Central Islip.
The charge remains an allegation unless proven in court.
Detectives said anyone who believes they may also have been victimized by Smith should contact the Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.
Caregiver Access Means Valuables Need A Record
In-home care often means giving an aide access to bedrooms, bathrooms, dressers, medicine cabinets, wallets, documents, and jewelry boxes because the care happens where the person lives.
AARP advises families hiring in-home help to secure smaller valuables such as jewelry, limit access to cash, checkbooks, and credit cards, and create an inventory of valuables with photos or video records.
For jewelry, watches, cash, cards, checks, medication, and personal documents, the useful record is simple: photos, a written list, where the items are kept, and the date the inventory was last checked.
The Agency Has Not Been Accused Of Wrongdoing
News 12 reported that Smith worked for Homewatch CareGivers in Hicksville. The available reports do not say the agency has been accused of wrongdoing. Families hiring care through an agency can still ask direct questions before someone starts in the home: whether background checks are done, who supervises the aide, how complaints are handled, and what to do if property goes missing.
If valuables disappear after in-home care begins, families should write down what is missing, take photos of any empty boxes or storage areas, avoid disturbing possible evidence, notify the agency, and contact police.