Cleaning Lady Charged For Southington Senior Facility Thefts

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A cleaning lady is accused of stealing petty cash, gift cards and money for designated funds from a facility in Southington that services senior citizens in the community.

Police released the details on Friday of the day-after-Christmas arrest of 37-year-old Melissa King of Plainville. She was charged on a warrant with third-degree larceny and is due in court on Jan. 7 after posting a $2,000 bond, police said.

According to case records, on Nov. 20, staffers at the Calendar House, 388 Pleasant St., reported thefts involving cash and gift cards from various offices and desks within the facility. The time frame given for the thefts was between the months of May and November police said.

A list of missing items included:

• $245 cash for the Christmas Tree Fund
• $5 in aash and a book of 1-cent stamps
• 20 Stop & Shop gift cards valued at $25 each
• 16 Walgreens gift cards valued at $25 each
• $45.00 on petty cash
• $240 in cash taken from the Golf Fund

The total value of the items taken is $2,281, police said.

According to case records, Southington police detectives interviewed employees and others who had access to the area, and, during the course of the investigation, King was interviewed. She allegedly admitted to taking cash from the facility, but denied taking gift cards, according to case records.

King works for an independent cleaning contractor assigned to clean the facility, police said.

The Calendar House was established in 1969 under the direction of the Southington Senior Citizen Commission.

Photo Credit: SPD

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