A woman hired to clean houses has been accused of stealing over $20,000 in jewelry from clients in west suburban DuPage County, according to county authorities.
Sandy Hernandez, 38, faces three counts of residential burglary, according to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.
A judge on Wednesday refused prosecutors’ motion to hold Hernandez in jail while she awaits trial. As a condition of her release, the Hanover Park resident is prohibited from working a job that requires her to enter another person’s house and from contacting the victims in the case.
Multiple homes burglarized
On December 2, 2024, a Glen Ellyn resident contacted police to report that their jewelry, which included a Cartier yellow gold ring with a diamond center, a charm necklace, and other things worth around $7,900, had been taken from their residence.
On Jan. 5, a second Glen Ellyn resident reported the theft of their jewelry, valued at around $10,000, from her home just days earlier. The stolen items included a 14-karat gold engagement ring with a diamond, a 14-karat gold wedding band, and more than a dozen other pieces of jewelry, according to prosecutors.
On Jan. 15, a third victim reported that their property, including a white gold Tanzanite Marquee ring, a gold band ring, and other things worth around $2,500, had been taken from their Glen Ellyn home the month before.
Investigators connected Hernandez to the thefts, and they apprehended her without incident on Tuesday.
What they’re saying: In a statement, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin urged residents to exercise caution when hiring professional cleaning services.
“It is alleged that Ms. Hernandez used her employment as a cleaning woman to gain access to her victims’ homes, and once inside, stole thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry,” he said. “Hiring a cleaning service can be a great help and time-saver, but people must remember that they are allowing unsupervised people in their home. Protect yourself and your belongings by asking questions before allowing people in your home. Ask about work experience, the amount of insurance they carry and don’t forget to ask for references.”
Hernandez is scheduled to appear in court again on May 5.
