House cleaner arrested, accused of stealing more than $100K from Westfield homes
The thefts were reported between Aug. 29 and Sept. 11.
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A Linden woman is accused of stealing more than $100,000 in cash, jewelry and other items from several Westfield homes she was hired to clean.
Beata B. Kucharczyk, 50, was arrested Sept. 23 after Westfield detectives conducting surveillance located her near her reported residence on Jefferson Avenue in Linden.
The Westfield Police Department began investigating after receiving multiple reports of stolen cash, jewelry, personal documents and other items from several homes. The thefts were reported between Aug. 29 and Sept. 11, though investigators determined that some may have occurred months earlier.
Police identified Kucharczyk as a suspect after determining she had been given repeated, unrestricted access to the homes while providing cleaning services.
Investigators also obtained transaction records that showed Kucharczyk sold multiple pieces of stolen jewelry to a store in Linden. The records included photographic identification of Kucharczyk as the seller.
A warrant charging Kucharczyk with second-degree theft was issued Sept. 11, but detectives were initially unable to locate her.
Following her arrest, Kucharczyk was processed at Westfield police headquarters and taken to the Union County Jail in Elizabeth. Police said she will be held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark pending further court proceedings.
