Police: Woman Accused of Stealing Jewelry Valued at $14K is in Custody

Police arrested Melanie A. Alvarez, 54, of Pleasantville, and charged her with third-degree grand larceny, a felony. 

On May 28, at 11:42 a.m. police received a call from a Juniper Drive resident who reported missing jewelry valued at $14,500. Officer Christopher O'Rourke and Detective Patsey Perrotto were assigned to the case. 

Following an investigation, police alleged that Melanie A. Alvarez stole a diamond ring valued at $8,500 from the residency while conducting a real estate appraisal. She admitted to taking it and returned it that same day, police said. 

Before the real estate appraisal, the resident made an inventory of everything in the house and after the appraisal, the jewelry was missing.  

Lt. Kevin Soravilla, public information officer at the Yorktown Police Department, advised people to be smart. He said they should secure their valuables and not leave them in visible or predictable places. 

"Don't leave [the jewelry] on the dresser or in the jewelry box," he said. 

Alvalez was arrested on August 2 at 1:15 p.m. by Yorktown police officer Brian Mundy while at the Pleasantville Police Department where she was interviewed in reference to an unrelated incident.

She was arraigned by Judge Gilbert who remanded her to the Westchester County Jail after she was not able to post the $1,000 bail. She is due in court on August 3 at 6 p.m.