Man Stole $5.5K From Elderly Resident: Wallingford Police

WALLINGFORD, CT — A New Haven man is accused of stealing more than $5,500 from an elderly resident in Wallingford, according to police. Dashawn Woods, 31, was arrested April 29 on a warrant following a lengthy investigation into the fraudulent activity of an elderly victim’s bank account and credit card account, according to Lt. Cheryl Bradley.

Bradley said the acting power of attorney for a resident of Ashlar Village reported to police on Jan. 7 that he noticed an unauthorized check issued to a woman unknown to the victim in the amount of $1,760. The memo section read “personal loan” and the power of attorney also noticed that a Chase credit card was also missing from the victim’s wallet, according to Bradley.

Police found that a suspect attempted to use the victim’s credit card at Walmart in Hamden on Dec. 27, 2019 to buy a flatscreen TV. The purchase was denied twice and a third attempt was made to buy a pack of gum, which was also denied. The suspect bought the gum with cash and walked out, according to Bradley.

On Feb. 7, the power of attorney found two more unauthorized checks made payable to a woman who was unknown to the victim, one in the amount of $3,470 for a “personal loan” and one in the amount of $350 made payable to same woman, according to Bradley.

Police obtained several search warrants for bank account information and video footage, including the attempted transaction at Walmart at Walmart, according to Bradley.

Bradley said all video footage showed the apparent same person completing or attempting to complete the fraudulent transactions. The suspect was identified as Woods with the help of a New Haven Police detective. Woods later admitted to the crimes, Bradley said. Police still don’t know who may have stolen the checks from the victim’s residence.

Woods, of Townsend Street in New Haven, was charged with three counts each of second-degree identity theft, second-degree forgery and fraudulent use of automated teller machine, two counts of sixth-degree larceny and one count each of credit card theft and illegal use of a credit card. Woods was released on a promise to appear in court on June 15.