Cleaning worker arrested in Palma: 32 pieces of jewelry and gold coins recovered

Trust betrayed: Arrest in Palma's Old Town

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It sounds like a bad TV drama, but this is how it happened in Palma: a woman who has been cleaning regularly in an apartment in the Old Town since 2012 is now in custody. According to people close to those affected, investigators found 32 pieces of jewelry, several gold coins and other valuable items — police say the value is approximately 20,000 euros.

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Keys, routine, then a gap

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The woman had long been regarded as reliable. She had keys to the apartment, came often at the same time, usually in the morning around 9 o'clock. A neighbor from Calle de Sant Miquel, who wished to remain anonymous, said that people knew her, she was always friendly and punctual, and that no one suspected anything.

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But eventually the owners noticed gaps: chains, earrings, a few mementos — things that cut to the heart. Instead of raising the alarm immediately, they collected moments, compared lists, talked to each other. The decision to file a complaint came after an inventory and the sense that something was off.

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Police work and recovered items

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The investigators searched the suspect's apartment and found most of the missing items. Among them lay gold coins, several rings, bracelets and earrings. Many of the pieces could already be returned to their rightful owners. The woman was arrested and must now answer in court.

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Such cases are particularly uncomfortable for the affected, according to a spokesperson for the investigative authority. It is not just about the material damage, but about a breach of trust.

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Community reaction splits

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In the neighborhood, people speculate about the reasons. An older resident recently said that sometimes it's financial hardship, sometimes it's opportunistic moments. That doesn't change how hurt one feels. Others warn against quick judgments — there are often underlying circumstances that one cannot know from the outside.

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For the apartment owners, relief remains that a large part of the pieces have been recovered. At the same time, the narrative of trust and betrayal lingers: keys handed over, routine established — and then trust broken.

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The case now proceeds through the judiciary. Further details, such as the exact sequence of events or possible prior convictions, were not released by authorities at first. The court hearing will show how the legal assessment turns out.

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Residents of Palma's Old Town will probably be a bit more cautious in the future when it comes to keys and trust. And yes: one realises how much sentimental value an old ring holds once it is missing.