Crime & Safety

Nanny Accused of Pawning Employers' Jewelry

Town of Lisbon woman reports missing rings, earrings, necklaces and a bracelet, according to a criminal complaint.

A nanny who worked with sisters living in Franklin and the Town of Lisbon is accused of stealing jewelry while working in their homes, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday in Waukesha County Circuit Court.

Jillian M. Atkinson, 30, of Lake Mills, is charged with misdemeanor theft. If convicted, she faces up to nine months in jail and a $10,000 fine.

According to the complaint:

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A Franklin woman noticed missing jewelry in August. She contacted her sister living in the Town of Lisbon to share that she believed their shared nanny had taken the jewelry. The Town of Lisbon woman told investigators with the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department she hired Atkinson in March to watch her three children.

The Town of Lisbon woman checked her jewelry and noticed a sapphire-and-diamond ring worth between $750 and $1,000 was gone. Other pieces missing included a set of emerald earrings, a matching emerald bracelet worth $300, two sapphire necklaces worth $200 and $250, a black pearl ring and another necklace.

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A police officer in Franklin traced the missing jewelry to a store in Watertown where the jewelry was pawned. The person who sold the jewelry was identified as Atkinson. A receipt for the black pearl ring indicated it was sold in April.

Police made contact with Atkinson, who admitted stealing the pieces from the sisters. She told police she stole the jewelry to sell for medications for her Lymphoma diagnosis. However, detectives noted that the black pearl ring was pawned in April – before Atkinson said she was diagnosed with the disease.

Atkinson is scheduled for court Feb. 4. Online court records do not indicate that she has yet been charged in Milwaukee County.


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