LAKELAND, Fla. – A local business owner who was trusted with the keys to private homes is now behind bars after Polk County deputies linked her to a string of high-value jewelry thefts.
Ashley Hernandez, 31, of Lakeland, was arrested Wednesday following an investigation that revealed thousands of dollars in gold and diamonds had been funneled through local pawn shops.
The case broke open on February 13 when a 67-year-old resident reported that several expensive pieces had vanished from her master bedroom. The victim told investigators she suspected Hernandez, who had been hired to clean the home three times since December 2025. Because Hernandez operated her own cleaning service, she was frequently left alone in the house with full access to every room…