PARADISE VALLEY, AZ — A Paradise Valley hotel employee is accused of stealing a diamond ring worth about $28,000.
The Paradise Valley police report that on April 4 a victim reported the theft of her 14K gold, 3 carat diamond ring and $249 in cash from her room safe at the Camelback Inn Resort.
Police say the victim’s sister, who was staying in the same room, called security to assist her in opening the room safe. Geovani Pacheco Diaz, 36, responded to help the woman.
Diaz opened the safe and told the woman there was already property inside. The victim confirmed that the wallet belonged to her sister and ring must be hers as well.
The woman placed her jewelry and cash in the safe but didn't notice if her sister's ring was still inside. Later that day, the victim opened the safe and saw her wallet inside, but her ring and cash were stolen. Her sisters' property was still inside.
The victim reportedly provided police with a photo of her ring and the appraisal which set the ring's value at $28,000.
Police say pawn records show that on April 9 Diaz pawned a 14K gold and 3 carat diamond ring at a Scottsdale jewelry store for $10,500. A jewelry store employee allegedly told police that Diaz claimed he found the ring in an abandoned storage unit he recently purchased.
When confronted by police, Diaz claimed to have found the ring in a roadway near the Camelback Inn, where he takes his smoke breaks.
He also reportedly told police that he had a lot of bills and had already spent the money.
Diaz has been charged with burglary, theft, and trafficking in stolen property.
