Delaware County sheriff’s deputies have recovered nearly 3,000 pieces of jewelry and other items that were stolen from at least a dozen senior living facilities in Franklin and Delaware counties, they reported this week.
Deputies said they have not made any arrests in the case but said the items were recovered from a home in Columbus.
Deputies said they have identified a suspect. Officials declined to name the suspect because the person has not been charged yet.
The Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing the case for potential criminal charges, deputies said.
Deputies said they believe the burglaries stretch back to 2013 at the latest and encompass at least 12 senior living/assisted living facilities in Franklin and Delaware counties, with at least 40 victims.
On Jan. 22, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook a photo of a woman deputies believe was responsible for the thefts and asked community members to call with any information. Deputies said the Facebook post led to a tip about the burglaries that later resulted in a search warrant and finding the recovered items.
Officials said nearly 3,000 pieces of jewelry, credit cards, ID cards and wallets were recovered, with most of the items being jewelry.
The Facebook post came after a series of thefts were reported at The Inn At Olentangy Trail located at 6 Corduroy Road, Delaware, on Jan. 14. Investigators said they believe a woman dressed in attire typically worn by social services or healthcare workers entered at least two rooms at the facility and stole a number of items.
No one was harmed in the thefts because residents were in the dining hall at the time, officials said.
The crime occurred while the rooms’ residents were in the dining hall.
Residents at The Inn At Olentangy Trail reported jewelry, more than $500 in cash, credit cards, driver licenses and other personal identification numbers were all missing when they returned.
Deputies said that the victims in The Inn At Olentangy Trail case are an 80-year-old woman and an 86-year-old woman.
Officials said there is video surveillance of a woman in the facility but The Inn At Olentangy Trail staff and residents could not identify her.
The crimes were reported to deputies the following morning. Detectives said they began an investigation immediately.
Local officials said Upper Arlington police, Dublin police, Westerville police and Columbus police are also investigating the case.
