Palatine woman accused of stealing 'substantial' money from elderly relative

A Palatine woman accused of using an elderly person's bank account to pay for more than 100 purchases - including an SUV - has been arrested, according to a news release Friday.

Candace Matranga-Perez, 36, of the 1100 block of Randville Drive, has been charged with felony exploitation of the elderly after Palatine detectives investigated money missing from the bank account of her elderly family member, police said.

In February, the relative called the Palatine Police Department to report a "substantial" amount of money missing from a bank account, police said. Detectives gathered video surveillance and other evidence linking Matranga-Perez to the crime, police said.

Matranga-Perez is accused of taking her relative's debit card and personal checks to steal cash and purchase numerous items, police said. She's accused of using the money to buy a 2011 Ford Explorer and charged the debit card more than 100 times at stores and ATMs, police said.

Matranga-Perez was arrested Thursday. She is scheduled to appear in Cook County District Court in Rolling Meadows today.