Gloved hand stealing jewelry
(Credit: Ghislain & Marie David de Lossy / Getty Images)

Following an extensive investigation into thefts at several independent and assisted living communities, Massachusetts police are working to reunite residents with their stolen jewelry and valuables.

Anne Rose Fleurant, a former home health aide, was arrested and charged on multiple fraud counts after a senior living resident in Randolph reported missing jewelry and a credit card after Fluerant left the resident’s apartment. That credit card subsequently was used at a liquor store and a Macy’s department store.

An investigation conducted by local police departments showed that Fleurant allegedly went into several senior living communities posing as a home health aide or hospice care worker.

She reportedly stole from legitimately assigned residences, as well as other residences who were not clients. Police reported that she knocked on doors in multi-unit buildings and told residents that she was sent by an insurance company or hospice. Several of the alleged victims were identified as living with dementia.

Search warrants for Fleurant’s home and vehicle turned up personal checks from three different senior living residents. Police said the checks were removed from the back of the checkbooks so that residents were unaware that they were missing. 

Randolph and Weymouth police said they also found large amounts of jewelry and designer handbags, items purchased using stolen credit cards, and receipts. Police also discovered work identification cards from 12 healthcare agencies.

Fleurant was arraigned March 30 in Quincy District Court on charges of identity fraud, receiving a stolen credit card and improper use of a credit card. Additional charges for larceny from a building, receiving stolen property and identity fraud were filed Wednesday on related offenses in Cohasset, Weymouth and Quincy. She is scheduled to be arraigned June 1 on those charges in Quincy District Court.

Police identified multiple alleged victims in various senior living communities, including in Braintree, Randolph, Cohasset, Quincy, Westwood and Weymouth. They continue to identify potential victims, whom they said may not be aware that they are missing valuables.

Among the items police confiscated via a search warrant were 50 pieces of jewelry, including charms, pendants, rings, eyeglasses, jewelry boxes, bracelets, coins, necklaces and earrings. A small collection of foreign currency also was discovered, including dinar from Yugoslavia, schilling from Austria, bolivar from Venezuela, rupee from India, pounds from Scotland and lire from Italy.

“This was a diligent and thorough investigation by Randolph Police detectives and our law enforcement partners in nearby communities, which resulted in an arrest and the recovery of many valuable and sentimental items that were taken from peoples’ homes,” Randolph Police Chief Anthony Marag said in a statement. “It is clear that many of the recovered items are unique, personalized and meaningful, and we hope to be able to return the items to their rightful owners.”

The case remains under active investigation. 

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center recently reported that American older adults were scammed out of $1.7 billion through fraud schemes in 2021, a 74% increase from 2020.