Police: Felton man stole thousands from grandmother’s bank account

A Felton man faces theft charges Feb. 5 after police say he emptied his grandmother’s bank account.

Lewes police were contacted Jan. 17 by Excel Care skilled nursing facility located on Ocean View Boulevard in reference to a possible theft from a 76-year-old infirm resident, police said. Police learned that the woman was months behind in payments to the nursing home facility, and that her bank account had only 2 cents in it despite receiving monthly Social Security payments. The woman could not account for the missing money, police said, and the Lewes Police Department initiated a forensic investigation into the missing funds.

Legal and bank records were subpoenaed and examined, which led to the discovery that the infirm adult’s grandson, Zachary R. Thacker, 31, who had power of attorney for her, had removed more than $4,000 from the bank account for personal gain and to support his drug use habit, police said.

Warrants were issued for Thacker’s arrest, and the Delaware State Police Governor’s Task Force located Thacker at his residence Feb. 5 and took him into custody, police said.

Thacker was charged with felonies – committing a crime against a vulnerable adult, and theft over $1,500 with the victim over 62 years of age. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to have no contact with the victim.