Woman with power of attorney accused of taking $73,000 from senior in Durham Region

The Durham Regional Police East Division building is shown in Bowmanville, Ont. on Saturday March 15, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Doug Ives

A woman with power of attorney is accused of abusing that status to take more than $70,000 from a senior in Beaverton.

Durham Regional Police said staff at Lakeview Manor reported a fraud in Aug. 2024 after payments for a resident’s stay were unpaid and in arrears of over $10,000.

The Older Adult Support and Investigative Services Unit launched an investigation into the resident’s power of attorney, who police say took on the role before 2016 and was responsible for the payments.

The investigation later determined that the woman appointed to manage the resident’s finances allegedly used $73,000 without her knowledge, $37,000 of which was withdrawn in cash, and the remaining $8,000 was spent on merchandise for herself.

The woman, identified as 53-year-old Laura Doreen Croft of Brock, was arrested on Jan. 14, 2026. She has been charged with possession of a credit card not authorized, using a credit card data not authorized, theft by a person holding the power of attorney, fraud over $5,000, and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

Police said Croft and the victim knew each other but did not elaborate on their relationship.