MENTONE – A recent arrest in Mentone demonstrates why people need to be careful with donations.
But Mentone Town Marshal Jim Eads and deputy Terry Engstrand hope the story won’t keep people in Kosciusko and Mentone from opening their hearts.
Christine Roberson started working at Biomet through a temp agency, according to Eads. One of the women Roberson worked with was able to get Roberson an apartment in Mentone near her.
Roberson, a single mother of four, told her co-worker how she had been down on her luck. The woman, along with other employees at Biomet, decided to help Roberson with food, clothing for her children and furniture. Mentone Elementary, where Roberson’s two older children attended, also pitched in.
Roberson got her neighbor and neighbor’s family to feel comfortable with her. She visited with them almost nightly, and was invited over with her children to dinner almost every day.
Roberson lived in Mentone for less than 30 days when her neighbor’s bank card and H&R Block Emerald Card were stolen. Allegedly, Eads said, Roberson got into her neighbor’s purse and took the cards.
Not including prescription pills and a Social Security card that Roberson allegedly stole, she made out with about $700.
“We have a video of her at Walmart using the bank cards,” Eads said.
Warrants were issued for Roberson on six felonies. Roberson had used the card three times, so she was charged with theft and fraud for each time, a total of six charges.
Saturday, the Mentone Police Department arrested Roberson, 303 S. Walnut St., Apt. B, Mentone, on six felony charges for removing her neighbor’s cards and using them.
She was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 2:35 p.m. on a $2,000 surety bond. Eads said Roberson allegedly had $200 on her to bond out.
Eads said the woman Roberson allegedly stole from had received a tax advance from H&R Block on the card for Christmas. Roberson allegedly stole the money the woman’s family was planning to use for their Christmas. H&R Block reportedly will refund the woman the money, but was unsure if it will be before Christmas, Eads said. They have two children.
St. Joseph County Child Protective Services had been looking for Roberson, Eads said. Once Roberson was arrested, the CPS asked Eads to remove Roberson’s children from her home.
“We placed them in foster care. We arrested her on Saturday afternoon, and we removed the kids Saturday evening,” Eads said.
Roberson’s arrest Saturday isn’t the first time she’s stolen from those trying to help others.
According to the South Bend Tribune, Roberson allegedly took about $1,000 in gift cards in from the Heminger House shelter in Plymouth, for abused women and children and was booked into jail in October 2008.
Roberson, a former resident at the shelter, was identified on a merchant’s in-store videotape as using gift cards for the purchase of liquor. Roberson and an unidentified man entered the store and allegedly selected a “large quantity of hard liquor,” which Roberson then used “numerous gift cards” to pay for, according to the article.
Another resident at Heminger House linked Roberson with the stolen gift cards.
Roberson was held at the Marshall County Jail on two counts of theft, both Class D felonies, and a surety bond of $20,000 was set.
Roberson had been evicted from the shelter. Some of the cards Roberson stole were used to provide shoes and clothing for Roberson and her children when they first arrived at the shelter.
“This town and county is always such a giving county. I don’t want this to ruin the giving this time of year,” Eads said. “... But be weary. There are people out there who will take advantage (of you).”
The woman knew Roberson just about 30 days, Eads said, but that was long enough for Roberson to take advantage.
There are service agencies and charities out there that do good, like Salvation Army, Jerry and Mary’s Helping Hands and the Fraternal Order of Police Shop With a Cop. People should consider giving to those known agencies, Eads said.
“It’s just tough sometimes,” he said. “Everyone tries to adopt a family, but this time (it went wrong). It involved a person who took advantage of another’s good will. With the economy being as it is, everyone probably knows a family in need. It’s probably better to give to a family you’ve known a long time than someone you just met.”
“If you want to give or donate, make sure it’s a credible agency or organization,” Engstrand said. “Make sure you do your research. Donate to a church, food bank or shelter. If it’s a large donation, check with law enforcement to make sure it’s a credible place to give.”
If someone wants to contribute to the family that Roberson allegedly stole from, Eads said they could contact the Mentone Police Department through Central Dispatch and they will set them up with the family.
Engstrand said, “You just got to feel bad for that family that just wanted to help that single mother out and got taken advantage of and now are struggling with their own family.”
