DUBLIN, Ohio - Police on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant for a woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars from nursing home patients.

According to police, Karen Carter (pictured, right) dipped into patients' checking accounts and ran up several thousands of dollars in credit card debt, 10TV's Maureen Kocot reported.

The crimes occurred while Carter was working as the business office manager at the Sanctuary at Tuttle Crossing, police said.

Dublin police said they were contacted by family members who noticed the unauthorized charges.

Records obtained by 10TV News showed that this is not the first time Carter has faced such accusations, Kocot reported.

Carter is currently serving five years probation for theft, and she is due in court later this month to answer to a long list of criminal charges, including forgery, theft, identity theft and falsification, Kocot reported.

Court records also showed that in late 2006, Carter was accused of stealing from three patients at the Lutheran Village Courtyards in east Columbus.

Investigators told 10TV News that Carter's state criminal records background check was forged, and that she lied on her application when it asked if she had a criminal record, Kocot reported.

In addition, the State of Ohio does not require background checks on nursing home patients who are not directly involved in patient care.

Dublin Police Lt. Heinz von Eckartsburg said it is even more reason for family members to pay attention to a nursing home resident's finances.

"You've got to go over your bank statements and your credit card statements with a fine-toothed comb," he said. "You never know what you're going to find."

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