Housekeeper accused in $100K jewelry theft in West University

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A housekeeper is accused of stealing jewelry potentially worth $100,000 from her 72-year-old employer in West University.

Andrea Sosa, 52, is charged with theft after the homeowner reported a large amount of her jewelry missing from a locket closet in her bedroom, according to court records.

Court papers show the homeowner, weak from recent medical issues, stayed on the first floor of her home rather than on the second level where her jewelry is located. However, when she did get up to the room where the jewelry was kept, she found the pricey items - some of custom-made and one-of-a-kind - missing from the closet.

The homeowner claims in court papers that Sosa, who cleaned her bathroom and bedroom on the second floor, never had permission to access to the closet or its key.

After making the discovery of the missing jewelry, the homeowner claims she confronted Sosa about the missing jewelry and the housekeeper denied taking the jewelry and left the victim's house in a hurry, according to court documents.

An investigator with the West University Place Police Department alleges in court records that the jewelry was sold at two pawn shops in north Houston. The officer claims the homeowner identified the jewelry as her own, but the items were already re-sold.

Sosa is in the Harris County Jail. Her bond is set at $10,000.