Cops: Des Plaines cleaning woman stole jewelry, coins

A cleaning woman from Des Plaines did more than just dust shelves and vacuum up dirt while tidying Evanston homes, police officials said.

Irena Cichanska, 46, of the 1000 block of Hollywood Street, also was cleaning those homes out of jewelry and rare coins, Evanston police said in a news release.

Police said five families filed reports that tens of thousands of dollars worth of coins and jewelry were missing from their homes in November, the police said.

Officials said they could not put a total on the amount of items taken.

Police said in the release the incidents were investigated and learned the link between the families was Cichanska, who was hired to clean all the homes. Police said the woman had been taking items from the homes, then selling them at area pawn shops.

Police added the thefts may have been going on for years, and the situation remains under investigation.

Cichanska has been charged with five counts of felony theft.

She is scheduled for a Dec. 15 court hearing in Skokie.