Geddes (WSYR-TV) - The price of gold may be motivating a lot of people to sell their jewelry for quick cash and police say it's driving something else—thefts.
Stephanie Pritchard is accused of pawning gold bracelets and rings from the elderly patients she cared for at St. Camillus Nursing home in Westvale. She has no criminal history, and Geddes Police suspect money woes pushed her to steal.
“One resident she cared for, she removed three bracelets while the resident was sleeping and took the bracelets and sold them at a pawn shop,” said Geddes Police Investigator Chris Lukins.
As shocking as the crime might be, police say it doesn't surprise them. Tempting ads to sell your gold may be prompting some to break the law in places you would least expect.
“Unfortunately, I think we're giving an idea for quick cash to some people that are also facing some tough times who work in these facilities,” Lukins said.
Things like this are forcing families to make some tough decisions about whether to let mom and dad in a nursing home or hospital wear the wedding ring or necklace they hold dear.
“That wedding ring, that wedding band, that necklace that bracelet is something they have cherished over their lifetime and be able to touch it, and feel it, gives them some comfort, “Lukins said.
Police say Pritchard got less than $200 for the jewelry she allegedly sold to a pawn shop. She may even get prison time and a hefty fine.
St. Camillus says these types of incidents happen every day at health care centers across the country and that they do thorough criminal background checks on everyone who works for them.
