A 68-year-old Elmhurst man's request for unemployment benefits led to a Carpentersville woman's arrest on identity theft charges, police said Wednesday.

Claudia Tierrafria-Gonzalez, 28, of the 200 block of Bolz Road, is accused of using the man's Social Security number to get a job at a local grocery store.

"She's used it this year to earn a total of just under $15,000," Carpentersville Police Comdr. Tim Bosshart said.

The case came to light after the man's request for unemployment benefits was rejected Nov. 6 on the grounds that he already had a job. But Bosshart said authorities later traced tax records to Village Fresh Market, 350 Lake Marion Road, where they discovered Tierrafria-Gonzalez had gained employment using the man's Social Security number.

Tierrafria-Gonzalez was arrested Tuesday and charged with identity theft and two counts of possession of a fraudulent identification card. Her bond was set at $25,000.

Bosshart said the suspect likely purchased the Social Security number in Chicago along with a "resident alien" card with the same information.

If convicted of the most serious charge, Tierrafria-Gonzalez could be sentenced to up to five years in prison. She's due back in court Nov. 25.