Realtor Accused of Stealing Jewelry From Client's Homes in Wheaton, Palatine

A 38-year-old realtor is accused of stealing several pieces of jewelry from a clients' homes in Wheaton and Palatine, prosecutors said Friday.

Bond was set at $10,000 for Jamie Detwiler, 38, Friday morning in the DuPage County case. Detwiler, of the 100 block of Brewster Avenue in Bloomingdale, has been charged with one count of residential burglary, a non-probationable Class 1 felony, and one count of theft, a Class 3 felony, for allegedly stealing jewelry, including a gold necklace with a diamond pendant, from a client’s home in Wheaton, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release Friday.

She was charged last month in Cook County with residential burglary for stealing jewelry from a client’s home in Palatine.

Authorities began an investigation into Detwiler after a Wheaton resident contacted the Wheaton Police Department on Oct. 1 to report a gold necklace had been stolen from her home. An investigation into the theft led authorities to Detwiler, who was identified as a realtor who had conducted a showing of the victim’s house on the morning of Sept. 29, according to prosecutors.

On Oct. 7, police officers saw Detwiler, who was under surveillance at the time, enter a home for sale in Palatine by herself and then exit the home about five minutes later, according to a news release. She was questioned by police and charged with residential burglary after she was allegedly found with 10 pieces of gold jewelry in her possession.

She was later released on $2,000 bail in that case and was placed on GPS monitoring.

Further investigation conducted by both Palatine and Wheaton police officers led to additional charges filed against Detwiler in DuPage County Friday.

“It is alleged that Ms. Detwiler used her position as a realtor to gain access to her victim’s home and once inside stole jewelry including a diamond pendant necklace,” Berlin said. “As anyone who has bought or sold a home can tell you, the process can be very stressful. People count on realtors to help them through this stressful time, not to rummage through their home in search of valuables.”

Detwiler faces up to 15 years in prison on the DuPage County charges. Her next court appearance in DuPage County is scheduled for Dec. 13.