Exclusive: Ft. Lauderdale Man Accused Of Stealing $34K From Elderly Neighbor

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - Lillian Greenhaus says she has spent her entire life trusting people. Now the 90-year-old widow says she may never trust anyone again.

In an exclusive interview with CBS4's Peter D'Oench, Greenhaus says the man now accused of ripping her off preyed on her at a very weak point in her life. She had fallen down and nearly broken her wrist. And she needed help writing checks.

She was also living alone. Her husband of 70 years, Albert, had recently died. They had moved to Fort Lauderdale from Queens, New York some 40 years ago. "It was really hard losing Albert," she told D'Oench. "He was a great husband. He was so nice to me. And he was the one who used to handle all of the finances. I knew nothing about writing out checks."

Greenhaus spoke to D'Oench on the same day that her neighbor, 58-year-old Robert Jancosko, came before a Judge in Fort Lauderdale, accused of larceny against a person 65 years or older.

According to Fort Lauderdale Police and Greenhaus, Jancosko, who lived upstairs from her in her beachside condo, befriended her and offered to help her writing checks. But Police say between April 28th of 2010 and March 21st of 2011, Jancosko stole more than $34,000 from her account by making checks out to cash and then depositing them in his own account.

Police say bank records show the cash being deposited in his account and the transactions were captured on surveillance tape.

"I feel so angry that he had the audacity to do that to me," said Greenhaus. "Basically I am good person and he took advantage of me. He took advantage of that. I have trusted people my whole life. My parents taught me to trust people. Now I don't know if I can ever trust anyone again."

"It all started when I fell down on a curb and nearly broke my wrist," said Greenhaus. "Our bills were coming in and I was concerned. I couldn't write anything. He lives in my building and would come down and have coffee."

"He would sit in here and tell me he was writing out checks," said Greenhaus. "And I was trusting. But he would make out checks to some people and then make out seven checks to himself and then cash them. I can't believe what I went through all these months. It has really taken its toll on me."

"It has reached the point where you don't know who you can trust these days," said Greenhaus. "I am on a fixed income and I really hope Prosecutors or the Judge in this case can help me get back some or most or even all of the money. I sure need it. It was $34,135 in all."

CBS4 caught up with Jancosko after he posted $3500 bond and walked out of the Broward Jail.

"She feels betrayed. Do you feel remorse?" asked a CBS4 news photographer. Jancosko walked away, declining to say anything.

Greenhaus agreed to give CBS4 an exclusive interview because she wanted to tell her story and deliver a warning about trusting people.

"If you are not able to write out checks, then see someone who you know you can trust," said Greenhaus. "Like your bank, your accountant, your relatives."

"I have a son who takes the best care of me," said Greenhaus "And he now writes out all of my checks."