43-year-old woman detained for years of thefts as a 24-hour caregiver

Activities across three countries

According to investigators, the woman had been hired through a placement agency as a 24-hour caregiver for a 75-year-old in need of care. However, she is said to have fallen significantly short of the contractually agreed care period of 28 days. Instead, she allegedly exploited the trust of her clients and helped herself to their assets.

Between mid-2022 and her return to Austria, the accused is also said to have stolen from people in need of care in Germany and Switzerland. She reportedly spent only a few days in each location under the pretext of providing care, and then disappeared taking cash, jewelry, and other valuables with her. Investigators describe the woman as an excellent German speaker, which allegedly facilitated her access to the families.

Affected seniors and breach of trust

The Public Prosecutor's Office accuses the 43-year-old of having worked as a caregiver for various families in Austria since 2019 and of systematically committing thefts in the process. According to current findings, the offenses span around seven years and exclusively concern older people in need of help.

In the most recent known case in Eisenerz, the woman was reportedly hired through a placement agency as a caregiver for a 75-year-old. Contrary to the agreed care period of 28 days, she allegedly left the senior's home on the night of the 17th [day] after taking valuables. The family only noticed the loss after the caregiver had disappeared.

The total damage from the offenses known so far is estimated by police at around 70,000 euros. According to investigators, this consists of stolen goods from several households in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. The actual amount of damage could be higher, as some victims may have noticed the loss of cash and jewelry only with delay or did not report it.

Investigations and cooperation

Police say they evaluated numerous leads, including placement documents, mobile phone data, and travel movements. This made it possible to locate the 43-year-old after her return to Austria and to order her arrest. According to the information, the woman was cooperative at the time of her arrest.

According to current findings, the alleged offender was employed solely as a caregiver, but evidently did not possess the necessary licensing or training. The placement agencies through which she gained access to the households are thus also coming under the focus of the investigations. The Public Prosecutor's Office is examining the extent to which the agencies fulfilled their duty of care.

For the affected families, in the investigators' assessment, the case represents not only a financial loss but also a profound breach of trust. Seniors in need of care had admitted the woman into their most private living spaces, while allegedly being systematically robbed at the same time. The Styrian police spoke in this context of unscrupulous crimes against people in need of care.

The investigations by the Styria State Criminal Police Office are ongoing. Among other things, it is being examined whether the 43-year-old caused harm to additional people beyond the cases known so far. Possible co-perpetration and the role of placement agencies in the three affected countries are also subjects of the ongoing investigations.

Appeal to possible further victims

The Steyr Public Prosecutor's Office had the 43-year-old taken into Linz correctional facility following her arrest, where she is being held in pre-trial detention. No information is currently being provided on possible further grounds for detention and the duration of pre-trial detention, as the investigations are ongoing and the presumption of innocence applies.

Police called on affected families and possible further victims to contact the investigators. The background is that the woman is said to have been active in multiple countries, and further offenses not yet reported are therefore expected. Tips can be submitted to the Styria State Criminal Police Office.

According to the information, the Styrian police is cooperating with authorities in Germany and Switzerland to clarify the case. Initial findings from the investigations suggest that the 43-year-old followed a recurring pattern: she would engage herself as a caregiver only for a short period each time and then disappear with the stolen goods. The cross-border cooperation is intended to ensure that all known offenses are consolidated into an overall picture.