A dog sitter stole a priceless piece of jewelry undercover. The agent said they found a way into the former client's house and took a diamond ring.

A private detective and Mildred Donahue's neighbor actually saw her former dog sitter in her driveway.

The dog sitter was fired in January, so the suspicious behavior caused Donahue to call Charlotte County Police.

Donahue lost without the wedding ring, but now she got it back and everything is fine. "I was so happy that tears were streaming down."

This ring is Donahue's constant reminder of her life with her late husband. Now, thanks to some excellent old-fashioned detective work, she has found it back. "Every day I open my joy box and it is there. Okay, it is there. I opened it that day and it was gone."

Donahue posted a photo of her ring on the stolen 911.com. People use the site to report and track stolen items. The site was run by Marc Hinch, a former police officer who turned into a private investigator.

"I suggest that we need to make sure to interview neighbors and possibly do some background work on the suspect. Also publicize it," Hinch said.

Donahue said: "Mark was the one who interviewed my neighbor. I took these interviews to the police station."

Interviews with neighbors can help identify suspects.

Donahue said her neighbor told her, "Gosh, I saw Karen's car in Millie's driveway a few Mondays ago. Then she walked into her house. Recently. She walked in. Entrance. She was there for about five minutes. I was about to wave to her when I went out. He said, but she ran into the driveway."

Detectives in Charlotte County used this information and interviews to identify the suspect; Donahue’s former dog nanny Karen Bird. The representatives arrested her and returned the stolen ring.

"He put a photo on my coffee table. Did he say that was your ring? I started to cry. I said yes, it was my ring," Donahue said.

Karen Byrd was charged with burglary, theft of an elderly person over 65, and two other counts.

Investigators suggested putting valuables in a safe, and even installing security cameras.

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