Well-Known Home Organizer Accused Of Stealing Valuables From Clients -- Including Taking Money From Piggy Banks

SANTA ANA (CBSLA) – An Aliso Viejo woman who was hired to help people organize their homes plead not guilty Friday to charge of stealing from several of her clients in Orange County.

Erin Aaberg, 41, who works at a freelance professional home organizer, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of grand theft, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Aaberg is accused of stealing from at least three clients between 2017 and January of 2019, and investigators believe she may have more victims.

Officials said she took many valuables.

KCAL9's Michele Gile spoke to several victims -- one who said Aaberg even took the money out of her children's piggy banks.

In one case, Aaberg stole an $11,000 gold pendant and sold it to a jewelry store in Mission Viejo, deputies said. In another, she stole a diamond engagement ring and returned it to the owner because she apparently believed there would be reward money involved.

In a third case, Aaberg was caught on surveillance video stealing gift cards. She returned the gift cards after being confronted, the sheriff's department said.

One alleged victim told Gile the accusations against Aaberg have her upset.

"It feels awful," the woman said."I feel violated. I feel taken advantage of. We were trying to do something nice by hiring a single mom ... We paid her really well and she took advantage of us."

The alleged victim wanted to shield her identity but she shared her story with Sheriff's investigators as well as posted screen shots on a Facebook page. The Laguna Hills woman told Gile that other items -- including shells from her husband's aquarium and puppy pads she normally kept in the garage also went missing. She said she later found these items being sold online.

Aaberg was booked on $20,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned Friday.

Anyone who believes they were victimized by Aaberg should call detectives at (909) 206-6191.