Police: House sitter stole $100,000 in jewelry

LADUE, Mo. -- Police say a St. Louis-area man stole $100,000 worth of jewelry from a co-worker while he was house sitting for her and her husband.

Ladue police say 23-year-old Andrew Bauer of Creve Coeur took brooches, pins, bracelets, rings, necklaces and earrings from Barbara Wulfing and her husband in August while the couple was on vacation.

Court documents say Bauer sold some of the jewelry for $9,000. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Bauer told police he needed money to pay debts and for a car payment.

Bauer is charged with one felony count of stealing and is jailed on $25,000 bail. He also faces a stealing charge for allegedly taking a $5,000 ring from his aunt.

Bauer's attorney, James Knappenberger, declined to comment on either case.

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com