Housekeeper Accused Of Stealing More Than $11K In Jewelry From Home

GLEN ELLYN, IL — A Rockford woman has been accused of stealing more than $11,000 worth of jewelry while cleaning a home in Glen Ellyn. Frances Carter, 44, was charged with residential burglary in connection with the incident.

Carter was arrested Monday and was released on the condition that she does not contact the residents whose home she is accused of stealing from.

Glen Ellyn police got a call on July 20 reporting that jewelry had been stolen from a home in the 1300 block of Jonathan Avenue sometime after Oct. 11, 2024. The residents reported that a 14K gold diamond tennis bracelet and a 14K gold diamond ring were among the items stolen.

"“t is alleged that Ms. Carter betrayed the trust placed in her and used her position as a cleaning woman to gain access to her victim’s home, and once inside, stole thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

Berlin added, “While the benefits of hiring a cleaning service can be advantageous, such as freeing up time to spend with family, pursue a hobby or simply allowing you some extra free time to relax, you must remember that when you hire a cleaning service, you are allowing unsupervised people in your home. There are simple steps you can take however to protect yourself and your belongings before allowing people in your home such as getting referrals from family, friends or a neighbor, inquiring about the amount and type of insurance they carry and asking about a company’s background check and vetting process for their employees. Once you have a provider selected, you can further protect yourself by being present, at least for the first few cleanings, installing security cameras and securing your valuables."

Carter is set to return to court on Sept. 29.