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Police: Senior Care Center Employee Stole Residents' Credit Cards

PETERS TWP. (KDKA) - Officers are looking for a former senior living center employee who accused of lifting residents' credit cards.

36-year-old Pamela Smith of Washington was a licensed practical nurse at Paramount Senior Living Center in Peters Township. Now she is on the run from police for a series of thefts in the center.

"One of the things we did early on in starting the company was develop systems that would catch thefts, money, medications those type of things," said center owner James Cox.

Police say Smith took the credit cards from unsuspecting residents and one employee. Her live-in boyfriend Walter Beatty IV was caught on surveillance videos using the cards to buy cigarettes, pizza and beer at local stores.

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"They attempted to use the cards 31 different times," said Chief Harry Fruecht with the Peters Township Police. "When they were successful they accumulated $1,500."

Police picked up Beatty and he has been charged with criminal conspiracy to commit theft and access device fraud. Pamela Smith is still on the run.

Authorities say there were five victims total. Four of them were residents at the senior care center, and one was a co-worker. The senior center said Smith since been terminated.

"We want to make sure everyone is safe and secure so we have pretty extensive programs to identify theft," said Cox.

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