A caretaker was arrested this month for allegedly taking more than $35,000 from an elderly family friend who was in her care, according to the North Miami Beach Police Department.

Olga Hidalgo-Gato, 46, assisted the 75-year-old victim from October 2010 through July 2011, according to police. During that time, Hidalgo-Gato allegedly wrote herself checks from the Nelsa Delgado’s account and made a several withdrawals from various ATMs, including casinos in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

“Our folks were friends from Cuba,” said Pedro Delgado, the victim’s son, 48, of North Miami Beach. “I asked my mother how long have you known her, she said ‘I saw her being born.’”

Hidalgo-Gato, who lives in Hollywood, offered to take care of the victim after a Department of Children and Families investigation revealed the victim was in need of care, according to a police press release.

“I didn’t think she would take anything. My mother loved her like her daughter,” Delgado said.

The victim, who is a retired care taker, began to suspect Hidalgo- Gato of stealing in August after she asked Delgado to take her to the bank to check her balance.

“They told me her balance was over drawn $700,” said Delgado.

At his mother’s North Miami Beach home Delgado found the grass was over-grown, rotten food was in the kitchen and several bills were past due. He then contacted the North Miami Police Department.

When confronted by a detective all the bank withdrawals and bank documents, Hidalgo-Gato stated she had not taken any money and all withdrawals were for legitimate reasons at the request of the victim, the release said. Hidalgo-Gato was arrested Feb. 9 charged with grand theft on a victim over the age of age 65 and exploitation of the elderly.

“This is primary topic of conversation with us she,” Delgado said, whose mother is temporarily living with a friend in North Miami Beach. “She can’t believe Olga did this. She said ‘I start thinking about it and I get so angry I can’t believe she did this, but the last thing I feel is pity.’”