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Former caregiver accused of stealing from elderly client

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By LISA A. DAVIS

ldavis@tampatrib.com

Published: November 3, 2009

Updated: 11/03/2009 05:13 pm

Stacy Loh

NEW PORT RICHEY - A 43-year-old caregiver was arrested Monday, accused of stealing a client's checks and using them herself.

Stacy Loh, 3803 Chaffey Drive, was arrested at Affinity Health Services, her former employer's office on U.S. 19. Loh's job was to be a companion to clients and help them with grocery shopping, light house cleaning and similar household tasks.

Stephanie Estevez, owner of Affinity Health Services, said today that she fired Loh in September before she knew about the check thefts.

She discovered that Loh had borrowed $20 from a 92-year-old client, and even though she paid it back that kind of behavior was not tolerated, Estevez said.

Later, she learned the same woman had checks missing. A Capital City Bank employee became concerned when she noticed that there were several out-of-order checks that had been cashed. The client told bank officials she never wrote the checks so the sheriff's office was notified, a report states.

Loh's name was on four checks that were cashed for a total of $485, according to sheriff's office reports.

Loh, according to sheriff's office spokesman Kevin Doll, had done the same thing at another home health care agency in Clearwater.

Estevez said that the other agency didn't properly report the thefts to the Florida Agency of Health Care Administration, so it didn't show up on Loh's background check when she hired her in June.

"Had they reported her, my client would've been safe," she said.

Estevez said she worked with a Pasco detective to get Loh to her office so she could be arrested. She called Loh and made her an offer.

"We said to her, 'We reconsidered and we would like to talk to you about giving you your job back,'" Estevez said.

When she showed up Monday afternoon, a Pasco detective arrested her.

Loh is being held at the Land O' Lakes Jail on charges of forgery, grand theft and uttering a forged instrument. Bail is set at $15,000.

Estevez said she plans faxing Loh's mug shot to other local home health agencies so they don't hire her.

"She doesn't need to be going into anybody's house," she said. "How do you steal from a (92-year-old) legally blind person?" she said. "That to me is disgusting."

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083.

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