A woman who stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from her police detective husband and her elderly mother-in-law has been sentenced to three years in state prison.

Essex County prosecutors say Patricia Piccinno opened credit cards in both victims' names and stole jewelry from them. She also withdrew all the money from her 80-year-old mother-in-law's checking, saving, insurance and investment accounts, forged checks in her name and stole pension and Social Security checks.

To hide her crimes Piccinno opened post office box addresses in her mother-in-law's name so her mail would be sent to Piccinno. Fake emails and stationary letters from an accountant were created, and she altered bank and tax statements.

The 50-year-old Boonton woman stole more than $500,000 from 2013-2018. Authorities haven't said why the thefts occurred.