Caregiver steals over P594K in cash, jewelry from elderly employer
A female caregiver was arrested in Makati City on Wednesday, Aug. 12, after allegedly stealing cash from her 77-year-old employer by replacing it with a bundle of blank white paper wrapped in scotch tape.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said the victim’s family discovered the theft inside their home in Barangay San Antonio at around 7 a.m. The 77-year-old victim is also a person with a disability.
Based on the investigation, the theft was uncovered after the victim’s family checked his bag and found that an envelope originally containing cash had been tampered with. Instead of money, the envelope contained a bundle of blank white paper meticulously cut and wrapped in scotch tape to mimic the thickness and form of actual currency.
The stolen items included P294,787 in cash plus a gold bracelet and ring worth P300,000.
The family confronted the suspect, who reportedly broke down and admitted to the theft. She later transferred P15,000 to the family via GCash and surrendered her iPhone as partial restitution.
However, most of the stolen cash and both pieces of jewelry remain unrecovered.
This prompted the family to report her to authorities, leading to her arrest for qualified theft at around 8:40 p.m. the same day.
The NCRPO said the suspect is undergoing inquest proceedings at the Makati City Police Station while authorities complete the formal charges and documents.
NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Anthony A. Aberin emphasized that the case underscores the importance of due diligence when hiring caregivers and other household workers, especially in homes with elderly or PWD family members.