Rover App Dog Sitter Arrested for Allegedly Pawning Over $500K In Stolen Jewelry

2 weeks ago 14

A dog owner in Colorado never imagined that the person she hired to care for her pets and water her plants would become the center of a criminal investigation involving nearly half a million dollars in stolen jewelry. The woman, who asked not to be identified for her safety, said she had always felt secure in her home. There were no signs of forced entry, no strangers lurking, no red flags. But piece by piece, her cherished jewelry began to disappear. It took months before she even noticed that several diamond necklaces, tennis bracelets, and other valuable pieces were missing. The absence was subtle at first—just a faint sense that something wasn’t quite right. When she finally took inventory of her jewelry collection, the loss was staggering.

Suspicion turned inward. Who had been in the house? Who could have possibly had access? Court documents later revealed a short list of people with permission to be in the home. One name stood out: Azure Foster. She had initially come into the woman’s life as a dog sitter—someone the owner connected with through Rover, a well-known pet-sitting app. Over time, Foster’s role had expanded beyond pet care. She became a familiar presence, even trusted to water the plants while the family was away. That trust, the woman said, would be betrayed in a way she never could have anticipated.

Rover, like many service platforms, promotes its use of enhanced background checks and its large network of trusted caregivers. The company assures pet owners that it scans federal, state, and county records to vet every sitter. A CBS Colorado investigation into Foster’s past revealed no felony history in the state. Still, Cherry Hills Village police say it was her fingerprints and photo records from pawn shop transactions that pointed detectives directly to her. Over several months, Foster is believed to have pawned approximately $30,000 worth of jewelry. Those pieces—some irreplaceable—had made their way into the secondhand market, never to be returned.

Police arrested Azure Foster in May. She was charged with felony theft. For the victim, the arrest brought a mix of emotions—relief, anger, heartbreak. The jewelry wasn’t just expensive; it carried deep personal significance. Some of the pieces had been gifts, others heirlooms. In court documents and police statements, it became clear that most of what was taken had either been sold or melted down. The victim said that knowing her sentimental items had been destroyed was among the hardest parts of the ordeal.

Cherry Hills Village Police Commander Brennan Lenininger offered a cautionary message to others. He acknowledged that while many people rely on apps like Rover, there is always a risk involved when inviting someone into your personal space. Even with background checks and platform protections, bad actors can slip through the cracks. Lenininger urged residents to follow app guidelines strictly and never bypass platform communication or payment channels. He noted that too often, people start with a secure booking system and then shift to off-platform arrangements, leaving them vulnerable. “You never know who you are dealing with,” he said. “Trust is important, but so is caution.”

Foster appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on June 11, but the proceedings were continued. Her next appearance is scheduled for July. In a phone call with CBS Colorado, Foster stated that she intends to hire a lawyer and plead not guilty. Her case remains open, and the legal process is ongoing.

A spokesperson for Rover called the situation “extremely rare,” pointing out that millions of services have been safely completed through the platform with overwhelmingly positive reviews. Nevertheless, the company reiterated its commitment to safety and urged users to keep all interactions within the app.

For the woman at the center of the case, there’s no app that can undo the betrayal or recover what was lost. But perhaps, she hopes, her story will serve as a warning to others. In an age of convenience, safety must never be assumed. It must be protected, always—especially when trust is placed in the hands of strangers.

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