Cleaning lady busted for jewelry theft

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said they arrested a cleaning lady accused of taking more than $72,000 worth of watches and jewelry from the apartment of her employer.

West Palm Beach Police said John Joseph Arrigo, 47, returned from a vacation Feb. 7 to find cleaning lady Mikaela Altadonna, 26, in his apartment, The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post reported Friday.

Arrigo said he asked Altadonna why she was in his apartment, as it was a Tuesday and not her usual Monday cleaning day, and she responded that she had been sick and had decided to clean on Tuesday instead.

Arrigo said he later noticed his watches and bracelets, worth more than $72,000, were missing from his home and video surveillance from his building showed Arrigo had been in his residence Feb. 6 and Feb. 7.

Altadonna, who allegedly sold three of the gold bracelets at a local store for $1,000, was charged with dealing in stolen property, false verification of ownership, and grand theft of $20,000 or more.