Police: Home health care worker stole $15,000 from Bartlett resident

A home health care worker is facing a felony charge alleging she stole thousands of dollars from a 61-year-old Bartlett resident she was hired to care for, Bartlett police said.

Mia Vela, 40, of Harvey, is charged with financial exploitation of an elderly person or person with a disability stemming from her arrest Wednesday.

Bartlett police said Vela was hired to provide care of the resident in July 2014. Since then, police allege, she stole about $10,000 from the resident's bank account and made about $5,000 in unauthorized purchases with the resident's debit/credit card.

Vela appeared in Cook County court Thursday, when a judge set her bail at $75,000. She is scheduled to return to court Feb. 26.

The charge against Vela is a Class 2 felony, punishable by a maximum three to seven years in prison if she's convicted.