March 12, 2026
RED FM News Desk
Durham Regional Police Service has charged a woman from Brock after police say she allegedly abused her role as power of attorney to defraud an elderly woman in Beaverton.
Police say officers responded to a fraud call in August 2024 at Lakeview Manor on Main Street after staff reported that a resident’s payments for her stay were more than $10,000 in arrears. Investigators with the Older Adult Support and Investigative Services (OASIS) Unit launched an investigation into the resident’s power of attorney, who had been responsible for managing the victim’s finances since before 2016.
According to investigators, the suspect allegedly used about $73,000 of the victim’s money without her knowledge, including withdrawing more than $37,000 in cash and spending over $8,000 on personal merchandise.
On Jan. 14, 2026, police arrested Laura Doreen Croft without incident. She is charged with several offences, including theft by a person holding power of attorney, fraud over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime.
Croft was later released on an undertaking. Police say the suspect and victim are known to each other.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Durham Regional Police OASIS Unit or Crime Stoppers. Allegations have not been proven in court.
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