Thief targets Cloquet and Scanlon assisted living facilities, police seek suspect

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Cloquet Police are seeking the identity of this woman, who was videotaped at an assisted living facility in Cloquet Sunday evening as she allegedly stole cash and prescription drugs. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 218-879-1947.

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Cloquet police are seeking the identity of a woman who entered multiple apartments in at least two local assisted living facilities on the evening of Sunday, Nov. 29, taking prescription medications and cash.

According to Cloquet Police Detective Darrin Berg, a woman described as “short, heavy-set and appearing to be Native American” was later spotted on the video surveillance system at Evergreen Assisted Living, 1309 14th Street in Cloquet, going from door to door of the facility’s third-floor residences and testing door knobs to see if they were unlocked.

“She entered our building around 5:15 p.m. on the east side entrance, went up the side steps and entered on the third floor,” reported Evergreen Executive Director Terri Langevin after reviewing the security tapes. “While residents were in the dining room, she entered unlocked resident apartments.”

One resident later reported that a bottle of Tylenol 3 with codeine was missing from her apartment, according to Berg, and another reported cash was taken out of a wallet.

Police were able to obtain clear pictures of the suspect and her actions from Evergreen’s extensive security camera system.

A similar report was also received from Suncrest Senior Living Community, 2400 Washington Avenue in Scanlon, regarding suspicious activity later that evening.

According to Berg, several Suncrest residents reported a woman coming to the doors of their apartments. Since all of them were home at the time, the woman reportedly used excuses, saying she was looking for someone else.

Upon later reviewing the security tapes from the Evergreen incident, several Suncrest residents and staff members positively identified the intruder at their facility as being the same woman as on the tapes.

Police are asking anyone who has information regarding the identity of the woman to call 218-879-1247.

In the meantime, Lange in said she is grateful that Evergreen’s security cameras were able to target the actions of the intruder.

“Evergreen’s management is very concerned about the crime committed at our building,” said Langevin. “Although we are very happy that our security system was able to videotape and photograph the suspect in the crime, we will continue to step up our security measures in order to provide our residents with the safest possible living environment.”

Tags: news, crime, cloquet