Florida Police Name Man 'Scumbag of the Week' for Stealing Jewelry from Senior Living Residents and Selling It at Pawn Shops By Charlotte Phillipp

Florida police have named a man the “scumbag of the week” for allegedly stealing jewelry from residents at a senior living facility and selling it at pawn shops.

According to Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, 45-year-old Shaun Burstein — who served as executive director of Arya, a senior living facility in DeBary — is accused of stealing jewelry from elderly residents’ rooms and taking it to local pawnshops.

Chitwood wrote in a Jan. 9 Instagram post that deputies were first alerted to a resident’s engagement ring going missing from their bedroom at the facility.

Video footage allegedly showed Burstein entering the room while it was unoccupied, going near the jewelry box, and then leaving. Additional footage also showed a separate incident in which Burstein allegedly attempted to open the jewelry box before noticing the camera and leaving.

“Detectives reviewed pawn records that revealed Burstein sold multiple pieces of jewelry, including the stolen engagement ring, which was positively identified and placed on hold,” Chitwood wrote on Instagram. “Pawn documentation and a fingerprint confirmed Burstein’s involvement in the sale of the stolen engagement ring.”

During an interview with investigators, Burstein allegedly admitted to stealing jewelry from multiple residents and selling the items at local pawn shops.

Records obtained by police showed he sold more than 93 pieces of jewelry between Sept. 23 and Dec. 30 last year, Chitwood said.

“This guy just goes in there and takes valuable heirlooms,” the sheriff told local outlet WESH in an interview. “The money is not the issue — it is the value to the family.”

“There is not a place in hell where these scumbags can go to burn,” he added. “If you are going to go out and victimize our senior community, you have no soul.”

Local senior living residents also told WESH that they were shocked to learn about the case, as the community had felt safe in the past.

“Half the time, we do not lock our doors because we feel safe here,” resident Sandy McLaughlin told the outlet. “In fact, I did not lock it now. Maybe I should go back and lock it.”

In a statement, Arya’s human resources director, Christine Welch, said Burstein is no longer an employee at the facility.

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“The safety and well-being of our residents remain our highest priority. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities, and Mr. Burstein is no longer employed at the community,” she told WESH.

Arya did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

In his Instagram post, Sheriff Chitwood dubbed Burstein the “scumbag of the week,” and confirmed that the investigation was still ongoing, as only one victim has been identified.

“If you or a family member believe you may be a victim, I encourage you to contact Detective Patel at [email protected],” he wrote.

Burstein turned himself in on Friday, Jan. 9, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office said. He faces charges including grand theft between $750 and $5,000 and dealing in stolen property, per court records.