Thomas Pinneri Simi Valley resident Thomas Pinneri, 54, was arrested July 24 on charges of stealing almost $100,000 from his mother’s bank accounts.

According to police reports, the mother, Dorothea Pinneri, 77, of Simi Valley suffers from dementia and is in a long-term care facility.

The reports indicated the son had been making a number of large cash withdrawals from his mother’s accounts.

He had also taken a reserve mortgage on his mother’s home and was cashing her Social Security and pension checks, most of it for his personal use.

Police say evidence indicates that Thomas Pinneri has an illegal narcotic habit and a gambling problem.

The son was arrested and booked in jail on felony charges of elder financial abuse.

A number of financial documents were seized by police, and more charges may be forthcoming after the forms are reviewed by the financial crimes detectives.

The elderly are often targeted for financial crimes.

The public is encouraged to report any suspicious activity of this nature to law enforcement.