A woman has been charged with stealing high-value jewellery from elderly victims while she worked as a cleaner in their homes, NSW Police say.
The 52-year-old woman has been employed for two years as a residential aged home care cleaner in Sydney’s west and the Blue Mountains.
On Thursday 6 December 2018, it’s alleged the woman stole a gold and sapphire ring from an 81-year-old woman, while she cleaned the woman’s St Clair home.
The same day, the woman attended a 72-year-old woman’s home at Wentworth Falls, where while undertaking her cleaning duties, she allegedly stole further jewellery which was worth in excess of $100,000.
Yesterday morning (Wednesday 12 December 2018), the woman pawned numerous stolen items at a shop in Penrith.
Later that day, police attended her Hebersham home and arrested her.
She was charged with two counts of larceny relating to the alleged thefts and conditionally bailed to appear at Mt Druitt Local Court on Wednesday 16 January 2019.
During a search of the woman’s home police located about 50 other items of jewellery suspected to be stolen over a two-year period from unsuspecting elderly clients.
Police are currently in the process of identifying the owners of these items of jewellery. Anyone who believes they may be assist with information is urged to contact police.
Further charges are expected in the coming weeks.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
