RCMP and Island Health investigating after allegations of care aide stealing money from elderly man

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RCMP and Island Health are investigating allegations of a caregiver stealing money from a 93-year-old man. Kendall Hanson reports. 

A Nanaimo woman is alleging an Island Health care aide worker has stolen money from her 93-year-old father.

Douglas Fairbanks, 93, and his daughter Susan Tye  say it happened at least three times amounting to hundreds of dollars.

On May 10, Tye said Fairbanks had money missing.

“[But] he wasn’t absolutely positive,” Tye said.

Fairbanks and Tye then bought three surveillance cameras to find out how the money was going missing.

Their video surveillance shows an Island Health care aide arriving to help take care of Fairbanks. The footage shows her allegedly rummaging through drawers she shouldn’t be,  and arriving for unscheduled visits at the same time money is allegedly going missing.

They didn’t capture video of the care aide stealing money.

“She came back on the 16th unlawfully. She was not scheduled to be in this home,” said Tye, as she showed video of the care aide, on that date, searching through a drawer.

There is also another video of another visit where the care aide is allegedly rummaging through another drawer with just personal items.

Fairbanks and Tye have reported their theft allegations to RCMP and Island Health and say it amounts to $570.

“Three times for a fact that we know money was definitely taken from the house,” said Tye.

In a statement, Island Health says it was aware of the individual’s concerns.we are taking them very seriously. Island Health is conducting an internal investigation and it can?t and will not discuss personnel issues.

“We are taking them very seriously. Island Health is conducting an internal investigation and it can?t and will not discuss personnel issues. As this matter is subject to an investigation we cannot provide any further details at this time,” Island Health said in the statement.

Nanaimo RCMP would only confirm it’s investigating the theft allegations.

“This bothers me because it keeps going on and on and on,” said Fairbanks who is also a Second World War veteran.

But on seeing the surveillance footage, Fairbanks said he was happy because they knew where the money was allegedly going.

The pair bringing the story to the media because they want a full and thorough investigation. They also want the care aide fired who they believe is still working at other homes though she’s not welcome back at theirs.

 

Kendall HansonKendall Hanson

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