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IMPD: Woman stole from elderly, impersonated home health aide

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A woman is in jail after police said she visited retirement homes across the city and posed as a home health worker to steal from the elderly. Police said she has a history of ripping off senior citizens that dates back to 2012.

Nickelle Rodgers is in jail now, facing 18 charges including theft and burglary.

Senior citizens started reporting missing money and medicine after visits from a home health care worker in May and June. Detectives showed them Rodgers’ photo and the victims said she was the worker.

According to court documents, Rodgers took a trip to the Home Place Senior Community last month.

The documents state Rodgers walked into senior citizens’ homes and introduced herself as a home health aide. The documents said she asked seniors to do various exercises, and later, it was realized that cash and painkillers were missing.

“I wonder why she wants to do stuff like that,” Home Place resident Wanda Mitchell said. “We don’t have no diamond rings or stuff like that around here like some people do.”

Police said one Home Place local did own a diamond ring until Rodgers visited their home. Detectives said in May and June she targeted Home Place West and three Crestwood Village Senior Communities.

A 71-year-old woman said 57 hydrocodone pills went missing after Rodgers’ unexpected visit. An 86-year-old man told police she took his $600 cash.

Police said they arrested Rodgers for similar activity in 2012. She pled guilty to theft after officers said she posed as a home health worker to steal from the elderly.

A spokesperson for Crestwood Village Senior Communities said the staff locks the doors with the exception of their main office doors during business hours. A staff member with Home Place declined an interview.

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