Ventura County caregiver arrested for allegedly stealing thousands from elderly woman

A Ventura County caregiver was arrested for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from an elderly woman under her care.

The suspect, Heather Moore, 25, of Oxnard, was identified by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday.

On Sept. 12, 2024, deputies received reports of possible financial elder abuse of an 81-year-old woman in Ojai.

While investigating, authorities learned that Moore had allegedly been stealing the victim’s checks and altering them to make purchases.

In total, over $3,000 in checks were altered, forged and made payable to Moore, who then reportedly deposited them into her personal account, investigators said.

Moore is accused of taking advantage of the victim’s cognitive decline and using her access to the woman’s personal items to carry out the scheme.

“Thankfully, an alert bookkeeper noticed the changes and alerted the victim’s family,” deputies said.

On Jan. 23, Moore was arrested for elder abuse, forgery and grand theft. She was booked into the Ventura County Jail and is currently undergoing court proceedings, the Sheriff’s Office said on March 13.

No further details were released as the case remains under investigation.