Thousands of dollars worth of diamond jewelry turned up missing recently from an Aurora store, and a female employee has been charged with stealing the jewels.
Stacey Doweidt, 42, 100 block of Hillstone Avenue, allegedly admitted to stealing $7,098 worth of necklaces and rings over the last several weeks.
The store became aware of the thefts when a unique ring went missing from the Kay Jewelers shop in the 2300 block of Fox Valley Center Drive.
According to Aurora police, the company’s regional loss prevention manager went to put the ring on hold for a customer, and realized it was not where it should be. In fact, the ring was nowhere in the store, polce said.
The manager also noticed that two expensive rings had been replaced with pieces of jewelry worth $25.
Police said on Feb. 6, an employee reported seeing Doweidt bending over near a display case where jewelry was being held. Within an hour, a ring inside that case turned up missing, police said.
During a police interview, she allegedly admitted to stealing a diamond wedding band set, worth $2,700; a diamond ring worth $1,800; as well as two additional rings and a necklace.
Police said Doweidt explained how she committed the crime, why she stole the jewelry, and expressed genuine remorse for her acts. She consented to a search of her home where the jewelry was recovered, police said.
Doweidt was charged with felony theft after the loss prevention manager told police he wanted to press charges.