Spring Hill cleaning lady jailed on grand theft charge

SPRING HILL –
A local housekeeper was arrested Friday on multiple charges following allegations she stole jewelry from one of her clients and sold them to a pawnbroker.

On Thursday, the victim told the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office she had several pieces of jewelry removed from her home between Feb. 20 and April 29, according to an arrest report.

The same victim named her cleaning lady, Noreen Sphikas, as a suspect, deputies said.

On May 11, authorities discovered Sphikas sold several pieces of jewelry to Easy Money Pawn in Spring Hill, according to the sheriff’s office.

Through photographs, the victim identified the jewelry as hers.

Sphikas, 48, of 8426 Boyce St. in Spring Hill, was charged with grand theft, defrauding a pawnbroker and dealing in stolen property.

Deputies said Sphikas sold two of the victim’s stolen items — a necklace and pendant — to the pawn shop for $150.

During her interview, Sphikas said she stole the jewelry and sold it to the pawn shop because of financial problems, deputies said.

She was transported to the Hernando County Jail. Her bond was set at $14,000.