Police: Woman wanted after nursing home thefts

PERKINS TWP. — Perkins Township police are looking for a woman suspected in a series of thefts from nursing homes. Clarissa L. Spearman, 37, of Toledo, has warrants for burglary, a second-degree felony, and theft, a fifth-degree felony, filed through the Ottawa County Municipal Court, according to the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office. Spearman is wanted for questioning in regard to three thefts from nursing facilities in Port Clinton, Sandusky and Perkins Township. Spearman allegedly entered the facilities, went to employee-only areas and took purses or wallets, according to Perkins police Det. Joseph Rotuno. After obtaining the items, she allegedly used stolen debit and credit cards and attempted to use them to buy gift cards, according to Rotuno. Rotuno did not have a specific dollar amount of loss but said it was, "well into felony range." In Ohio, theft of value in excess of $1,000 is considered a felony. Another suspect is involved in the thefts, according to Rotuno, but police have been unable to obtain a clear enough image of the person to identify them. Spearman's first alleged theft in the township occurred on June 29, Rotuno said. She then allegedly came back to the area on Monday where she entered two more facilities in Perkins, one in Sandusky and one in Port Clinton. Anyone with information about Spearman's whereabouts is urged to call Perkins police at 419-627-0824 or the Port Clinton Police Department at 419-734-3121. Editor's note: This story was updated to indicate that the theft charge is a fifth-degree felony.