ATTLEBORO - A 42-year-old woman is accused in Attleboro District Court of stealing $6,500 from a disabled 71-year-old veteran she befriended and helped with errands.

Kathleen Anne Birks, of 192 Maple St. in Attleboro, allegedly used the man's bank card to make withdrawals from his Bank of America account without his permission, according to court records.

Birks denies stealing the money and told authorities the man told her she could pay back the money. She told police she did not know the exact amount she withdrew, according to court records.

She pleaded innocent two weeks ago to larceny of more than $250 and is free without bail. She is due back in court Dec. 8.

The number listed for her was not in service when The Sun Chronicle tried to reach her for comment Monday. Birks, also known as Kathleen Hahn, was arrested Nov. 14 after an investigation by Detective Russell Castro and Patrolman Karl Williams.

The officers received a complaint from the alleged victim who told them he realized the money was missing when his bank notified him his savings and checking accounts were overdrawn.

Police said the alleged victim often took cabs for transportation and became friendly with Birks, who is a cab driver for Houle's Cab.

The man told police he gave Birks $350 in September to buy clothing for her children. He said Birks ran errands for him, such as grocery shopping, and made bank withdrawals to obtain spending money for him. No one else had access to his bank card, he told police.

Birks told police she has known the man for about four years and had been performing errands for him for about eight months.

The case remains under investigation.