A home care aide pleaded not guilty today to accusations that she swiped a credit card from a 90-year-old woman in her care and racked up $30,000 in charges over six months.

Sarika Mangru, 48, denied the allegations through her attorney in court.

Nassau County police said the Jamaica, Queens resident was caring for the senior at her home in North Woodmere when she made a series of unauthorized transactions between June 2024 and January 2025, according to officials.

Mangru allegedly stole the victim's American Express card and added it to her Apple Wallet account, according to court documents.

During the investigation, a second victim came forward and accused Mangru of using the fraudulent card to buy $1,055 worth of lenses and frames from a store in Hewlett. An ophthalmologist at Eyes on Broadway, located at 1344 Broadway, told police that Mangru came into the store and handed the employee a credit card that had the victim's account info but Mangru's name on it, on Nov. 6, 2024.

According to documents, the card was not accepted when swiped, so the employee manually entered the information and it was approved. That employee told Nassau County Police that American Express sent the business a dispute letter, which cost them the money from the sale.

The victim told investigators that Mangru did not have permission or authority to use the card at any time.

“It occurs much too often," a senior visiting the Five Towns David Love said. "You have elderly people who have caretakers and nobody is overseeing it and it’s only when something happens that it’s discovered.”

Nassau County police charged Mangru with one count of third-degree grand larceny, two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, identity theft and third-degree unlawful possession of a personal identification. Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly offered some tips to protect yourself.

She said it’s important to review credit card statements each month.

If you can’t do it yourself, she suggested asking a trusted friend or relative to help.

She also said you can put an alert on your credit card, so that if it’s charged above a certain amount, you’ll be notified.