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| Ashley Hernandez / Polk County Sheriff’s Office |
By Staff Reporter
iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published February 21, 2026
Cleaning Business Owner Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Thousands in Jewelry From Elderly Lakeland Victim, PCSO Says
LAKELAND, Fla. — A cleaning business owner has been arrested after Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies say she stole thousands of dollars in jewelry from an elderly client while working inside the woman’s home.
According to PCSO, 31-year-old Ashley Hernandez of Lakeland was arrested on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, following a theft investigation involving more than $12,000 in stolen jewelry.
The investigation began on February 13, when deputies responded to a Lakeland residence for a reported grand theft. A 67-year-old victim told investigators she believed her house cleaner, Hernandez, had been entering her master bedroom during scheduled cleanings and stealing valuables.
Detectives say Hernandez, who owns her own cleaning business, had been hired to clean the home three times since December 2025, and was often left alone with full access to the residence.
The victim reported discovering several high-value items missing from her jewelry box on February 11, including:
- An 8-inch diamond bracelet valued at $2,000
- A pendant valued at $3,000
- An 18-karat gold men’s ring with a Medusa imprint valued at $3,000
- A 7-inch 18-karat gold ID bracelet valued at $3,000
- A pair of 18-karat gold panther earrings valued at $500
During the investigation, detectives located several of the stolen items at Quick Cash Liquidators and confirmed Hernandez had completed 12 separate fraudulent pawn transactions. Authorities say she is accused of stealing at least $12,180 worth of jewelry, though some pieces had already been sold or melted down.
Hernandez was arrested and charged with:
- Dealing in stolen property (F2)
- Providing false owner information to a pawnbroker (F2)
- Theft from a person 65 years or older (F2)
Investigators also learned that additional theft allegations surfaced online. A friend of the primary victim, who also used Hernandez’s cleaning services, reported $350 worth of items missing from her Brandon home. That portion of the case is being handled by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, though PCSO detectives added additional charges after confirming the Brandon jewelry was pawned in Polk County.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd issued a warning to the community following the arrest.
“When you invite someone into your home to work, you’re placing a great deal of trust in them. This suspect took advantage of that trust, and our detectives, who are the very best, wasted no time uncovering the truth. I would suggest that anyone who allowed this suspect into their home do a full inventory on their valuables, and report any suspected theft to your local law enforcement agency,” Judd said.
The investigation remains ongoing, and deputies encourage anyone who may have used Hernandez’s cleaning services to check their belongings and report any suspicious losses to law enforcement.
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