A Florida jewelry thief swallowed $770,000 worth of Tiffany earrings just before his arrest near Orlando, according to police. Jaythan Gilder, 32, posed as a representative for a professional athlete at a Tiffany & Co. store in the Mall at Millenia on February 26. He was shown several high-value pieces, including two pairs of earrings worth $769,500, before grabbing them and fleeing.
Gilder was apprehended by the Florida Highway Patrol while attempting to return to Texas. During the arrest, he was seen swallowing objects believed to be the stolen earrings. An x-ray later confirmed the presence of foreign objects in his abdomen. Officials said that Gilder has a history of similar thefts, including a robbery at a Tiffany & Co. in The Woodlands, Texas, in 2022, and he has 48 outstanding warrants in Colorado.
Currently held without bond in Orange County, Gilder faces multiple felony charges. Authorities are waiting for the stolen items to pass through his system for recovery. The investigation is ongoing, and police have not yet confirmed the recovery of the earrings.