Cops: Aide stole, used patient's credit card

Suffolk County police Monday arrested a personal care aide who they said stole her patient's credit card and used it to buy more than $2,500 worth of merchandise.

The family of an 80-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease called police after they received her credit card statement with 31 suspicious charges and later discovered that her card was missing.

Detectives obtained surveillance photos allegedly showing Lynn Spruill, a personal care aide who had been caring for the patient for about six months, making purchases with the stolen credit card.

Spruill, 31, used the card to purchase more than $2,500 worth of merchandise over 23 days in November, police said.

Spruill, an employee of Premier Home Health Care in Ronkonkoma, was arrested Monday at 6:45 p.m. when she reported to work at the victim's home on Woodland Drive in Bayport. When she was arrested Spruill was also in possession of oxycodone and hydrocodone, police said.

Spruill, of 525 Post Ave., Bellport, was charged with Grand Larceny 4th Degree, Forgery 2nd Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree. She is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on December 7.