Area woman accused of stealing jewelry, cash - Post-Bulletin
A Wabasha woman made her first appearance Thursday in Olmsted County District Court, where she's been accused of stealing jewelry, cash and electronics worth more than $12,000.
Victoria Elizabeth Vitha, 23, has been charged with one count of felony theft. She was released on her own recognizance and is due back in court Oct. 18.
The investigation began Feb. 2, when a Marion Township couple contacted law enforcement about Vitha. They believed she'd taken two 55-inch flat-screen TVs from their home, in addition to a gold necklace worth more than $9,500, a $500 diamond ring, an $800 collector's coin and $750 in cash, the complaint says.
Vitha allegedly took the man's vehicle and debit card without permission and withdrew another $60 in cash Jan. 30 in Winona.
She admitted via text message that she'd taken the missing items, court documents say, and the couple learned Vitha had pawned the jewelry and coin the week before.
The couple called authorities again Feb. 3, when they realized the man's watch also was missing. It recently had been purchased, the documents say, and they believed Vitha would try to return the watch to the store for a refund.
On Feb. 6, the couple tracked down Vitha, but she still hadn't returned the man's vehicle, the complaint says. They provided law enforcement with screenshots of ads on Facebook, where Vitha allegedly had been listing some of their property for sale.
The ads included seven collector coins, valued at $210, that the couple hadn't realized were gone.
The total amount of cash and items reported taken totaled $12,635.
