Employee of Trenton-Based Cleaning Service Charged with $80k Theft

A cleaning woman was charged on Friday with stealing a large sum of money from an elderly client in Kingston over a two-year span.

Oksana Hrytsiv, 38, of Hamilton Township, allegedly stole nearly $80,000 while employed by Lilka's Cleaning Service in Trenton.

The victim, who is in his 80's, had moved to an assisted living facility in South Brunswick a few years ago. Hrytsiv was charged after the victim's middle-age son discovered improprieties in his father's checking account and alerted South Brunswick Police.  

A subsequent investigation by Det. Mike Pellino revealed "a deep and long term pattern of theft that took place over nearly two years time," police said.

Police determined that Hrytsiv was writing checks to herself and depositing them in a bank on the border of Ewing and Trenton.

If convicted of the second degree crime, Hrytsiv is subject to between five and ten years in prison. She is currently being held at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center on a detainer, as authorities believe she may not be in the country legally.

Authorities are encouraging anyone who may have employed Hrytsiv to make an assessment of their bank accounts to determine if they were also victimized.

Anyone with information is asked to call South Brunswick Police at 732-329-4646.