Housekeeper Pawned Elderly Client's 1957 Wedding Present, Cops Say

A 79-year-old Englewood woman may never see the silverware given to her as a wedding gift back in 1957.

That’s because Sarasota County deputies say the woman’s housekeeper stole the set, valued at $13,000, and pawned it for about $80. The housekeeper is also accused of taking jewelry from the woman.

The victim notified deputies about the crime Wednesday and told them she thought her housekeeper could be a possible suspect.

When a detective began checking local pawn shops, he discovered the housekeeper in question had made 22 recent pawns in both Sarasota and Charlotte counties, according to an arrest report.

When the detective visited the Gold Rush pawnshop, 1901 S. Tamiami Trail, in Sarasota he discovered the silverware in question had been pawned back in July and had subsequently been sold. The pawnbroker did, however, have photos of the silverware. The victim positively identified the silver in the photos as hers and had examples of silver that hadn’t been swiped to compare.

Deputies arrested Autumn Barnett, 31, of North Port on one count of grand theft and one count of providing false ownership information to a pawn broker. She bonded out of the Sarasota County Jail on $3,000 bail. Deputies say she works for Shamrock Cleaning.

The investigation continues to determine if there might be other victims.

Photo Credit: Autumn Barnett/Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office