A housekeeper and her husband are in the Gwinnett County Detention Center after police said they stole up to $300,000 in tools, jewelry and food from a man while he was getting treatment for cancer, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Janice and Aaron Brown have been charged with theft and exploitation of a disabled adult.
Gwinnett man charged in girlfriend's stabbing death was out on bond
All Gwinnett schools now have 'panic buttons' for emergencies
Patrick Toomey started noticing food going missing from his Lilburn home after hiring Janice Brown as a housekeeper, he told Channel 2. Toomey initially wasn’t too worried about it.
“If people steal food, they must need it,” Toomey told Channel 2.
But then, Toomey started noticing jewelry, tools and a gun missing from his home. He confronted Janice Brown about the missing items, but she said he must have lost them, he told Channel 2.
“She said, ‘Oh, you always lose stuff. I’ll come back and find it for you,’ ” Toomey said.
Toomey soon fired Janice Brown. After she was dismissed, the housekeeper and her husband broke into Toomey’s home while he was at bible study and getting treatment for prostate cancer, a police officer said at a Wednesday hearing. Detectives later found $30,000 worth of Toomey’s tools at area pawn shops.
“I feel very foolish that I would let them take everything from me,” Toomey told Channel 2.
Janice and Aaron Brown are being held without bond. That gives Toomey a sense of comfort, he told Channel 2.
“I hope I can protect people, that’s all,” Toomey said. “And I’m learning to protect myself, too.”
About the Author
