ORLANDO, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Florida man allegedly stole more than $700,000 worth of earrings from a Tiffany & Co. store before swallowing the evidence just before his arrest near Orlando, authorities said.
Jaythan Gilder, 32, entered the Tiffany & Co. at the Mall at Millenia on Feb. 26, claiming he represented a professional athlete, according to Orlando police. Store employees showed him several high-value jewelry pieces, including two pairs of earrings worth $769,500.
Surveillance footage allegedly shows Gilder sitting at a display table with two pairs of earrings and a necklace in front of him. Moments later, he grabbed the earrings and ran.
The Florida Highway Patrol later caught up with Gilder, who was seen swallowing several objects, which authorities believe were the stolen earrings.
Repeat Offender With Multiple Warrants
Orlando police released an X-ray image appearing to show a foreign object in Gilder’s abdomen. Authorities also revealed that Gilder had committed a similar jewelry theft in 2022 at a Tiffany & Co. in The Woodlands, Texas and currently has 48 outstanding warrants in Colorado.
Gilder remains in custody in Orange County. It is unclear if he has retained or been assigned an attorney.
When asked if the stolen earrings had been recovered, Orlando police declined to comment, stating they had “no additional information to share at this time.”
