Rochester police have arrested a couple accused of trashing and stealing from a home while the woman was supposed to be dog-sitting.
They charged 29-year-old Chelsea Cooke of Irodequoit and 26-year-old Anthony Altamura of Kent with grand larceny and criminal mischief for stealing more than $12,000 worth of the homeowner’s possessions, some of which were recovered from pawn shops. Damage to the family home and car ran to another $12,000 or more.
Katherine Cooper and her husband hired Chelsea Cooke over Facebook when an accident and a broken pelvis disabled Cooper’s mother, who was watching the house and the family’s dogs. The couple had already left for a two-week European dream trip and booked a replacement dog watcher over Facebook.