Police
Florida Jewelry Thief Swallows $700,000 in Earrings Before Arrest
A Florida jewelry thief swiped more than $700,000 in earrings and then swallowed the evidence just before he was arrested near Orlando last week, officials said.
"Professional Athlete" Scam
Jaythan Gilder, 32, told employees at Tiffany & Co. in the Mall at Millenia on February 26 that he represented "a professional athlete" before being "shown several high-value pieces of jewelry, including two pairs of earrings worth $769,500," Orlando police said in a statement.
Surveillance Footage Catches Thief
Surveillance footage appeared to show Gilder sitting at a table inside the store with two pairs of earrings and a necklace in front of him. He then grabbed the earrings and took off, footage showed.
Thief Caught Swallowing Evidence
The Florida Highway Patrol caught up with Gilder, who was "seen swallowing several objects believed to be the stolen earrings," police said.
X-Ray Image Reveals Foreign Object
Orlando police released an x-ray image that appeared to show a foreign object in the suspect’s abdomen.
Repeat Offender
Gilder pulled off "a similar robbery" at a Tiffany & Co. in 2022 in The Woodlands, Texas, and he has "48 separate warrants out of Colorado," police added.
Update on Stolen Earrings
An Orlando police spokesperson declined comment on Wednesday when NBC News asked if the stolen earrings had been recovered. Police have "no additional information to share at this time," the department representative said.
Conclusion
The case highlights the cunning nature of some thieves and the determination of law enforcement to bring them to justice.
FAQs
- What was the value of the stolen earrings?
- The earrings were worth $769,500.
- How many times has the suspect been in trouble before?
- Jaythan Gilder has a history of jewelry theft, with a similar robbery in 2022 and 48 separate warrants out of Colorado.
- Has the stolen evidence been recovered?
- The Orlando police department has declined to comment on the status of the stolen earrings.
