An Oliver woman is facing charges of theft by deception and forgery after she allegedly stole $46,000 from the elderly woman for whom she cared.

State police said that Karen Joyce Clingan, 62, of 193 Main St. was acting as a private caretaker for Mary Ellen Burhans, 96, and alleged that she wrote unauthorized checks, and added money to other checks written out to pay her.

Burhans is a resident of Marquis House in South Union Township, but Clingan was a privately hired caretaker and not employed by the personal care home.

Trooper Charles Morrison indicated that the alleged thefts came to light in June, when Clingan went on vacation, and a second caretaker took care of Burhans' banking.

While that caretaker was doing the banking, a teller gave her canceled checks, Morrison said.

The new caretaker noticed that Clingan's checks - which should have been $300 or $500 - were written in higher amounts.

Morrison said police believe that Clingan was filling out the dollar amount in the check box, showing Burhans, and then changing the amount to reflect amounts such as $1,500 or $3,500.

"It was sheer coincidence that she (DiMarco) got handed the information," Morrison said.

He indicated that the thefts went on from March 2008 through this May, and said during that time, Clingan handled all of Burhans' finances. In the check registry, Morrison said that Clingan would enter the amount that she should have been paid, not the inflated check amounts.

When police talked to Burhans, Morrison said she told police that she never authorized the additional payments.

Morrison said he has seen this type of alleged crime before, and noted that it's one that is on the rise because the elderly can be easy targets because they can be forgetful or confused.

In one set of charges, filed this week before Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr., Morrison alleged that Clingan altered $18,000 in checks. The complaint alleged that she wrote another $14,000 in checks that Burhans never approved, and there was another $9,000 in questioned transactions.

Those charges were filed after a set filed earlier this year alleged an initial theft of $5,000 based on altered checks.

Morrison said after that initial filing, Protective Services for Older Adults went over Burhans' finances and found the additional $41,000.

Marie Christinis, Supervisor of Protective Services for Older Adults in Washington, Fayette and Greene counties, said that theft from the elderly is all too frequent.

She said the victimization can come at the hands of caregivers, but it also can come from family, friends and neighbors.

The elderly depend upon people to help them, but instead, Christinis said they take advantage of their physically or mentally frail state.

"For every report we get, there are many that go unreported," Christinis said. "Some people have a sense of embarrassment when protective services come in. They wonder how it happened to them, but they shouldn't be embarrassed."

The agency accepts anonymous referrals, and Christinis said that someone will make an unannounced visit, talk to family and friends, and assist anyone who needs to make a police report.

To determine if there are thefts, she said the agency will look at how a potential victim historically handled their money as opposed to how they are doing so now.

"I think the more the word gets out there, there are people who can help and I think it'll help cut down the incidence of exploitation of the elderly," she said.

Protective Services for Older Adults serves people 60 and older who can't get the necessary services for their physical or mental heath, have no responsible caretaker and who are at risk.

Christinis said there are many kinds of "abuse," including self-neglect, physical or psychological abuse and material or financial abuse.

To get in touch with the agency, the 24-hour hotline is 1-800-537-2424.