MAITLAND, Fla.,None — A babysitter is accused of robbing families while taking care of their children, Maitland police said on Wednesday.
One family said they were so suspicious of the babysitter, that they hired a private investigator.
Detectives said the woman stole jewelry, watches and collectable dolls worth more than $30,000.
They said she then sold the merchandise on eBay.
Police said 26-year-old Carly Nemeth stole $5 from a child's piggy bank.
Nemeth stole gold jewelry that was pawned and melted down before the families even realized it was gone, police said.
It all started in an upscale Maitland home. Police said Nemeth moved in with relatives and served as a babysitter. She then branched out, watching the children of other family friends.
But police said that changed when valuables started disappearing from the homes and the families started to suspect Nemeth.
"It was a huge amount. Looks like it was going on from April 2010 to May 2011," said Sgt. Louis Grindle of the Maitland Police Department.
Police said they are talking to more possible victims.
After the families realized their valuables started to disappear, they hired a private investigator who planted other valuables in the home, along with money, and recorded serial numbers.
WFTV was told that the investigator then set the trap to capture her stealing the items on hidden camera.
That is when they confronted Nemeth and called police.
Investigators said she pawned the valuables or sold them on eBay.
Her eBay page shows her at as a "highly-rated" seller of goods, many of which police believe never even belonged to her.
Nemeth told Winter Park investigators when the families showed up late or didn't pay her on time, she would take things instead of asking for payment.
Nemeth is out of jail on a $2,000 bond for two Winter Park cases. The Maitland cases are still under investigation, police said.