ROCKLAND — An Owls Head woman who was already free on bail after being charged with theft and negotiating a worthless instrument, was arrested March 1 for allegedly stealing another person’s identity.

Irina Erickson, 46, was charged by Thomaston police with felony theft by deception, felony forgery, misuse of identification and a violation of a condition of release.

Erickson made her initial court appearance before Judge Barbara Raimondi in Knox County Unified Court March 2 where her bail was set at $500 cash for the new charges. She posted bail and was released from the Knox County Jail. A condition of her bail stipulates that she is not to have any contact with the victim.

According to the affidavit filed in court by the Thomaston Police Department, a woman from Thomaston contacted them to report that someone had opened a new credit card in her name at the end of December and made unauthorized purchases locally and online totaling $1,495.

The victim told police that she suspected Erickson since she had moved into her house to watch her cat while she was away. She lived together with the victim for a short period of time before she was alone in the home after the victim left town for some time. The woman said that Erickson had access to all of her personal information, such as her social security number.

The credit card statement included purchases from the Walmart store in Thomaston. Sgt. Olaf Sigaud reviewed the store’s security video from when the transaction was made and Erickson was identified making a purchase for $72, according to the affidavit.

Erickson allegedly made the remaining purchases online using the Amazon and Chewy websites.

She admitted to police that she opened the credit card by using the victim’s personal information including her birthday and a fake maiden name and email address.

Erickson told police that she was “going through rough financial times and saw an opportunity and took it.”

She has been free on bail for a previous theft and negotiating a worthless instrument charges in December, according to police.

Erickson’s court appointed attorney is Alecia Tocci of Brunswick.

She will appear in court again March 25.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com