BELLEAIR, Fla. — A Florida nurses aid was arrested after police say she pawned a $17,000 diamond ring that was stolen from a bedridden woman for $400.
According to the Belleair Police Department, Lauren Marie Dito, 26, was working as a nurses aid for Able Palms Home & Health Care Services when a pair of earrings and a ring from the home of a bedridden patient suddenly went missing.
The stolen items were as followed:
- 14K yellow gold diamond earrings containing sixteen round brilliant cut diamonds valued at $1,325.
- Platinum ring containing two round brilliant cut diamonds with a total weight of 1.43 CT valued at $17,750.
The victim's husband noticed that the jewelry was missing from her nightstand and reported that Dito was the only new nurse's aid to enter their home. The couple had a regular crew of five who were assigned to their home on a regular basis.
Investigators with the Belleair Police Department discovered that Dito pawned the 14K earrings to Cash America of St. Petersburg on January 22 for $200. She then pawned the platinum ring to Orange Pawn in Largo on January 30 for $400.
Dito was arrested on Wednesday and charged with dealing in stolen property. She has since posted her $10,000 bond.
