Police say a Walmart employee took advantage of her mentally disabled co-worker, persuading him to give her nearly $18,000 in purchases and cash.

Sara Delamro, 31, of Sandy, introduced herself to her co-worker under a false name and started a relationship with him, leading the man to believe that she was his girlfriend, according to charges filed Tuesday in 3rd District Court.

During the first week of April, the victim — a 36-year-old man who suffers from substantial mental impairment — opened several credit accounts with three jewelers, a credit union and cell phone service provider in Salt Lake County. According to court documents, the credit accounts were used to purchase goods or obtain cash totaling $17,810.25 for Delamro.

The majority of purchases were made in Murray at Jared Jewelers, 5928 S. State, and Mike's Custom Jewelry, 254 E. 6400 South, where the victim spent more than $11,000, court documents state.

Police caught on when the victim's mother expressed concern in April that her son had recently opened a large number of credit lines. Police tracked down Delamro by cell phone records.

Delamro was charged with five counts of exploitation of a disabled or elder adult, second- and third-degree felonies. Bail was set at $50,000.