$55,000 in stolen jewelry was melted, including widow’s wedding ring, NC cops say

A woman serving as a trusted in-home caregiver was exploiting her older patients behind the scenes, stealing and pawning their jewelry, according to the Cornelius Police Department.

The first of the “elderly victims” came forward on Sept. 16, and reporting $55,000 in jewelry had been stolen from her home between May and August, police said in an Oct. 17 news release.

An investigation determined “one of the victim’s hired caregivers, Kathryn Actis, had been stealing jewelry over this time period and selling the jewelry to a pawn shop out of state,” police said.

“The stolen jewelry included items of sentimental value such as the victim’s wedding ring, high school class ring and pieces of her late husband’s jewelry.” police said.

“Sadly, the jewelry had been melted down for gold scrap by the pawn shop prior to the victim noticing the theft.”

Actis was arrested in Davidson County and charged with exploitation of an elder adult and felony larceny, police said. Her bond was set at $15,000.

“Detectives have since found evidence that Ms. Actis has also stolen from other elderly victims while acting as a caregiver,” police said.

“If anyone has any further information on these crimes or believes that they are a victim of Ms. Actis, please contact the Cornelius Police Department.”

Actis also went by the name Kathryn Arlene Skiles, police said.

Cornelius is about a 20-mile drive north from uptown Charlotte.