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Nurse charged with stealing from Lincolnshire patient

A Glenview woman is charged with stealing $255,000 from a Lincolnshire man while working as his full-time nurse, authorities said Monday.

Theresa A. Lau, 44, of the 0 to 100 block of Park Drive, was charged with financial exploitation of an elderly person and two counts of theft over $100,000 following her May 1 arrest, Lincolnshire police Investigator John-Erik Anderson said.

Lau is held in Lake County jail on $500,000 bail, authorities said.

Anderson said officers were contacted by the victim's son in July 2012 after the victim released a $150,000 payment to Lau.

Police were able to put a stop payment on that transaction but learned Lau had taken $100,000 from the man earlier in the year, authorities said.

During the investigation, Anderson said, the woman was told numerous times by police and her attorneys to return the money. However, Lau split the money and moved it to various bank accounts throughout the United States in an effort to avoid returning the cash, Anderson said.

After another unsuccessful attempt to retrieve the funds, Anderson said, police obtained an arrest warrant for Lau.

“She worked as a nurse in the victim's home and went with the victim to withdraw the money on two occasions,” Anderson said. “The $100,000 was broken up and sent different ways, and never returned.”

Her next court date is May 30.

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