Maid admits upscale N.Y. jewelry theft

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NEW YORK, July 21 (UPI) -- A housekeeper to a New York Diamond District jeweler and his wife has admitted to stealing jewels including one ring worth more than $300,000, police say.

When Ruth Fouzailoff, 40, went to put on her $30,000 wedding band and $15,000 emerald necklace Saturday and discovered they were missing, she confronted her housekeeper, Yolanda Cortes, 33, who allegedly confessed to stealing the gems, the New York Post reported Wednesday.

Cortes allegedly also admitted to stealing a gold ring worth upwards of $300,000 and several pieces of couture clothing over the past five months, police say.

Cortes, charged with grand larceny, is being held at Rikers Island in lieu of $8,000 bond, the Post said.