CEDAR FALLS — A woman who was hired to clean a retired Cedar Falls man’s home has been arrested for allegedly going on a spending spree with his credit cards.
Roseann Kay Perleberg, 60, of Waterloo, was arrested March 10 for two counts each of credit card fraud and second-degree theft against an older individual. She was released pending trial.
The theft charges fall under statutes passed by Iowa lawmakers last year that enhance penalties for crimes against victims ages 60 and older.
Second-degree theft normally carries up to five years in prison upon conviction. Second-degree theft against an older individual has a maximum punishment of up to 10 years in prison.
Despite perceptions of rising crime, theft has become far less common in recent years than it used to be. However, there are still hotspots where break-ins and burglaries are far more common than the typical American neighborhood.
According to court records, Perleberg worked for a cleaning company that was hired to clean the victim’s Autumn Ridge Road home. The victim, described as being around 80 years old, later went to police to report that two of his cards had been used without his knowledge in October and December 2022.
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One card had 36 transactions for a total of $3,241, and the other card had 22 transactions for a total of $1,552. Locations included grocery stores, convenience shops, discount stores, pet stores and retail chains. Items included groceries, gasoline and a George Foreman grill, according to court records.
Investigators used surveillance footage from the stores to identify Perleberg as the suspect, according to court records.
Jeff Reinitz
Police and Courts Reporter
I started with The Courier in 1999 and cover criminal justice and public safety.
