Crime & Safety

Westfield House Cleaner Stole $100K In Cash, Jewelry From Residents, Police Say

Beata B. Kucharczyk, 50, of Linden, reportedly sold multiple pieces of stolen jewelry to a store in Linden.

WESTFIELD, NJ — A house cleaner is accused of stealing more than $100,000 worth of cash, jewelry, and other items from Westfield homes, Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro said.

Beata B. Kucharczyk, 50, of Linden, was arrested on Sept. 23 and charged with second-degree theft.

Westfield Police's Detective Bureau began investigating following numerous reported thefts of cash, jewelry, personal documents, and other items from several different Westfield homes.

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The thefts were reported between Aug. 29 and Sept. 11, but, in some instances, happened months earlier.

The victims of these thefts were all unrelated to one another, said Battiloro.

Find out what's happening in Westfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Detectives identified Kucharczyk, who police say was granted repeated, unrestricted access to all of these Westfield homes while performing house cleaning services.

The investigation also reportedly found that Kucharczyk sold multiple pieces of stolen jewelry to a store in Linden.

On Sept. 23, Kucharczyk was processed at the Westfield Police Department and taken to the Union County Jail in Elizabeth.

She will be held in the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark pending further court proceedings.

Anyone with any additional information related to these thefts, or with any information related to possible additional, yet unreported thefts, is urged to contact Detective Eric Carrero of the Westfield Police Department at 908-789-6073 or ecarrero@wpdnj.org.

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