By Matthew Monks
Lucyna Turyk-Wawrynowicz, 35, was arrested June 21 on grand larceny and other charges after being accused of swiping a pair of $95,000 earrings belonging to De Niro's wife, Grace Hightower, the News reported. A criminal complaint filed in Manhattan Criminal Court said Turyk-Wawrynowicz burglarized three clients from Manhattan over the past four years. The complaint describes the alleged thefts but does not name the victims. Police did not identify the agency that referred the woman to her clients. Turyk-Wawrynowicz, a Polish immigrant, began working for De Niro and his wife in May 2005. After she took the job, the couple noticed several items missing. The earrings were recovered from Turyk-Wawrynowicz's apartment in Middle Village on June 20, the complaint said. She is also charged with stealing a $1,000 suede jacket from the home of another client the News said was actress Candice Bergen, whom Turyk-Wawrynowicz began working for in March 2002 as a housekeeper. When Bergen confronted her and demand the return of her property, Turyk-Wawrynowicz threatened to blackmail her, the complaint said. “If you have me arrested I will go to the press and tell them the reason I was fired and accused of these crimes is because your husband sexually harassed me and I refused his advances,” the complaint quoted her. She is also charged with stealing a credit card from a third client and using it to make 16 purchases at the clothing store Barney's in March 2001. According to the complaint, when she was confronted about the charges, Turyk-Wawrynowicz told the card's owner: “I did not think that you would notice.” Reach Reporter Matthew Monks by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
