Jewelry Heist at Orlando’s Tiffany & Co.: Suspect Swallows $769,500 Earrings in Bold Theft Attempt

A jewelry theft involving a significant amount of high-value merchandise occurred at the Tiffany & Co. store located in the Mall at Millenia, Orlando, Florida. The incident, which took place on February 26, involved a suspect identified as Jaythan Gilder, a 32-year-old from Houston, Texas. According to Orlando police, Gilder entered the store claiming to represent a professional athlete and requested to view several expensive pieces of jewelry, including two pairs of earrings valued at $769,500.

Gilder’s approach led the store staff to bring him into the VIP room, a protocol typically reserved for high-value transactions. He presented himself as a representative of a player from the Orlando Magic basketball team, using the alias “Shawn” during the interaction. The suspect was described as wearing a red hat, a red Polo-brand shirt, and ripped blue jeans at the time of the incident.

Following the alleged theft, Gilder reportedly swallowed the stolen earrings in an attempt to conceal the evidence. This act took place just before his arrest near Orlando, as detailed in court documents. The arrest affidavit, reviewed by CBS News, outlines the sequence of events leading to Gilder’s detention and the subsequent recovery efforts for the stolen merchandise.

The case highlights the challenges faced by luxury retailers in safeguarding high-value items and the lengths to which individuals may go to execute and conceal thefts. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to retrieve the stolen jewelry and further understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.