ZELIENOPLE — In addition to her medical expenses, a trip to the hospital left a grandmother more than $700 in the hole.

Police said Catherine Ohler told them she took the time to hide her purse before she went to the hospital Dec. 30.

However, police said her debit card was taken and more than $730 in purchases and ATM withdrawals made.

Police charged Codie Rekasie, 21, of Evans City, Ohler’s granddaughter, with 27 counts related to the incident, including receiving stolen property and theft.

According to the police report, Ohler and her daughter, Debbie Kline, came to the police station on Jan. 23 to report that upon returning from the hospital, Ohler had a voice mail from Northwest Bank stating that suspicious transactions had appeared on Ohler’s account.

Ohler said could not find her purse upon returning home.

Zelienople patrolman Wayne Magill then secured the dates and times of the transactions from the bank and checked the security footage at the 7-11 on Glen Eden Road, the Bilo Gas ‘n Go and other stores.

Rekasie, who is Kline’s daughter, was spotted allegedly making the suspicious transactions and purchases.

Rekasie waived her preliminary hearing Tuesday before Judge Wayne Seibel in Evans City.