A homeless couple allegedly took advantage of the kindness of a friend and used her debit card fraudulently while she was hospitalized, according to police.
On June 11 police got a complaint of larceny and fraud at the Carriage House at 2297 Whitney Ave., according to Hamden Police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith.
Officers found that the complaintent, a 60-year-old woman, had allowed the couple to stay with her, but a short time later she was hospitalized, Smith said.
Even then she allowed the pair to stay in her residence, he said, but when she was released and returned home, she discovered that her debit card had been used 19 times without her authorization, he said.
In addition, a check was stolen from her checkbook, Smith said. In all, she was out almost $1,900, he said.
Detective John Marks, who conducted the investigation, identified the suspects as Donald and Allison Strait and applied for a warrant for their arrest, Smith said.
On Wednesday, Marks saw the couple -- Donald, who is 41, and Allison, who is 32 -- riding a bus on Whitney Avenue and arrested them, Smith said.
Both were charged with Illegal Use of a Credit Card, Conspiracy to Commit Illegal Use of a Credit Card, Credit Card Theft by Transfer, Conspiracy to Commit Credit Card Theft by Transfer, Identity Theft, Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft, Receiving Goods/Services Obtained Illegally, Conspiracy to Receive Goods/Services Obtained Illegally, fourth-degree larceny and Conspiracy to commit fourth-degree larceny.
In addition, Donald Strait was charged with forgery, Smith said.
Both were held in lieu of $5,000 bond and are due to appear in Meriden Superior court on Aug. 29.
