Couple Caught Removing Safe From Jailed Woman's Home

Investigators want to know why people were removing items including a safe from the home of a Volusia County woman facing charges. Sandra Cooper is currently in jail, accused of stealing nearly $400,000.

Suspect Sandra Cooper 111605 Sandra Cooper Since the investigation is still open, the last thing deputies want is someone going into a suspect's house and hauling things away.

Neighbors called deputies to the home on quiet Trail Drive.

"There was some sort of suspicious activity going on. There shouldn't be anybody around the house," said spokesman Brandon Haught, Volusia County Sheriff's Department.

The house belongs to Sandra Cooper, who is accused of stealing nearly $400,000 from an elderly woman in her care. With Cooper in jail, the house should be empty. But when a deputy arrived Wednesday night, he found two people driving off with suspicious cargo.

Email News Sign-Up Multiple Choices - Auto sign-up (RIGHT ALIGN) GET WFTV NEWS HEADLINES BY EMAIL 9 a.m. Headlines Noon Headlines 4 p.m. Headlines News of the Strange Breaking News Alerts When the deputy looked in the back of their vehicle, he saw a safe that came from Cooper's house.

"We questioned them. Why did they have the safe? Nothing to substantiate their being there," Haught said.

The safe was taken, but not opened. Investigators need a warrant for that.

The couple was let go. Channel 9 tracked them down at their home in Sanford.

"I would have never gone over there if I had any idea," Randolph Hamilton said.

He said he's Cooper's friend. He said he got a call telling him to bring the safe to a local bail-bondsman. He never expected to get stopped by the deputy.

Hamilton said he opened the safe, but never looked inside. Although, he said, he thinks what is inside could be used to raise bond for his friend.

"I imagine it is money. The package looked like money," he said.

Cooper is being held on $200,000 bond. Meanwhile, the safe is secure in the Volusia County evidence lock-up. Investigators are trying to get a judge's order to open it.

Previous Stories: November 16, 2005: Caregiver Arrested For Neglecting, Stealing From Woman