Housekeeper stole jewelry from 96-year-old resident of Sunrise of Glen Cove, cops say

Maria Leyton, who works at a Glen Cove home for seniors, was arrested on charges that she stole several pieces of jewelry from a 96-year-old woman, police said. Glen Cove police announced the arrest on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. Credit: Glen Cove Police Department
A housekeeper at a Glen Cove home for seniors has been arrested on charges that she stole several pieces of jewelry from a 96-year-old woman, police said.
Maria Leyton, 53, of Glen Cove, was charged with larceny and two counts of possession of stolen property in the theft, police said.
The resident at the Sunrise of Glen Cove assisted living facility reported six “valuable” pieces of jewelry were missing from her room on the morning of Nov. 8, police said.
The assisted living facility, at 39 Forest Ave., then began an internal investigation and contacted Glen Cove police, which led to Leyton, who had cleaned the victim’s room on the morning that the jewelry was discovered missing, police said.
An emailed statement from the facility said, “Under no circumstances do we tolerate criminal activity of any sort. Upon learning of the allegations, we immediately took action. We cherish each and every resident and strive to hire compassionate, caring team members.”
A Sunrise spokeswoman declined to comment on Leyton’s current employment status.
Glen Cove City Court Judge Richard J. McCord set Leyton’s bail at $500 and issued a stay-away order, according to a spokesman for the Nassau district attorney’s office.
It was unclear whether Leyton had an attorney. A phone message left at Leyton’s home was not immediately returned.

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