Police: House Cleaner Stole Jewels

Looks like it's true what they say; good help really is hard to find.

Springfield Police say an Orange resident stole over $500 worth of jewelry from an elderly Springfield couple who employed her as a housecleaner.

According to a Springfield Police report, Cathy Harris, 43, stole the jewelry sometime between November of 2009 and April of this year. The house's owners were at their winter home in Florida during that time.

The couple reported the missing jewelry to Springfield police in late April. Springfield Detective Stephen Studlack investigated the report, and found no signs of forced entry at the house. Studlack concluded that Harris, who had access to the house, stole the jewelry.

Police arrested Harris when she arrived to clean the house on the morning of May 24. She was initially picked up for an active bench warrant issued by the West Orange Municipal Court for failure to appear on narcotic offenses. She was also charged with theft of movable property, and admitted she stole the jewelry.