FRANKLIN BOROUGH, NJ — A woman faces multiple charges following a theft and forgery investigation that began in December.
Katerine Basek, 31, of Franklin Borough, was arrested on the afternoon of March 19, 2026, according to Franklin Borough Police.
On Dec. 15, Patrol Officer Jonathan Sienkiewicz received a call from an Arkansas resident who said she had taken in her elderly father to care for him in August 2015.
The complainant stated she had observed withdrawals from her father’s checking account over the last two months totaling over $11,000.
With assistance from Franklin Borough Detective Zachary LaGrave and the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, Officer Sienkiewicz determined that Basek had removed checks from the victim’s home in Franklin Borough after he relocated to Arkansas.
Police said Basek was employed by a home cleaning service enlisted by the victim’s real estate company and had issued the checks to herself over multiple occasions between October and December.
Basek was charged with three counts of theft, three counts of theft by deception, three counts of forging checks and three counts of presenting forged checks.
All charges are third-degree crimes.
Basek was issued a complaint summons and released pending her appearance in Sussex County Superior Court in accordance with the New Jersey Bail Reform Act.
