At a retirement home in Castres, a staff member stole personal belongings from residents’ apartments. The case was brought to light by Arnaud*, son of one of the victims, who installed a surveillance camera in his grandmother’s apartment following several thefts.
“I have seen my grandmother’s mental state deteriorate“. Inside the Happy Senior residence in Castres, an employee is suspected of stealing the residents’ belongings. She allegedly raged for a year. Arnaud* is the nephew of one of the victims, a 5-year resident at the institution.
She explains that for more than a year her grandmother has seen her belongings vanish. “At first I thought he was going senile, losing his mind“, he confides. The management of the establishment certifies him that no theft is committed inside the residence.
In September, when the local management doesn’t intervene, he decides to install a surveillance camera in his grandmother’s apartment. “My grandmother’s set of keys to the main house goes missing, and comes back a few days later, without the key rings. It is following this event that I make the decision“, explains the nephew.
One afternoon he goes to visit his grandmother and they both go to eat in the residence’s dining room. “Going up to the apartment, I realized there was a problem. I had locked the door and when we returned it was double locked and the breakfast tray was still there“.
He then decides to view the video surveillance images from his mobile phone. “He had latex gloves on and for 9 minutes he visits the apartment and steals items. She was very methodical“, says the nephew.
At this point he returns to the dining room and questions an employee who confirms that the person visible in the video works well here. “At the same time, a resident and her son come to complain about a missing gold bracelet.”
Together they take over the direction of the Castres police station. Arnaud * files a complaint against the woman whose identity he knows and the other man against X.
The images are then entrusted to the Castres police. “He stole everything. Perfumes, face creams, jewelry, money. She stole all sorts of objects, even an extension cord.”
The next day she is arrested at her workplace and the inhabitants are interrogated. Many then report the disappearance of personal effects. The person was then placed in police custody and two searches took place at her home, where the stolen objects were found. Of which “more than 200 jewels“, according to Arnaud*. The investigation is ongoing.
In addition to the thefts, what prompted Arnaud* to install this surveillance camera was the deterioration of his grandmother’s mental state. “She became totally paranoid. She now she sleeps with her wallet and checkbook under her pillow“, he explains, worried.
“What outrages me is that the management of the establishment did nothing, even though they were aware of it. They sell security, but they don’t use means of surveillance.“
We contacted James Galland, deputy managing director of city group Odalys, who says “Fall from the sky“.”If we had known the worm was in the apple, we would have made decisions sooner. We are not in solidarity and condemn these acts.“He also reports a quick response, with the employee being fired, all locks changed, and new surveillance cameras added.
“We may all have surveillance systems, but when an employee is acting it is increasingly difficult to realize. If we had the slightest suspicion, we would have acted and it couldn’t have happened again.” As for the reports made to the head of the establishment, James Galland said he was unaware of them. “JI’ll go to the end of this story to see if anyone has failed“, he confides.
“We are responsible for employing him as an employer, but we cannot be responsible for his actions. It wasn’t Happy Senior who stole. “
* Assumed name
