Florida jewelry thief swallows $770K worth of Tiffany earrings to avoid arrest, police say
A Florida jewelry thief allegedly swallows $770K worth of Tiffany earrings just before his arrest. Authorities report the shocking incident during his attempted getaway. Read more about this bizarre crime and its aftermath.
A Florida man, Jaythan Gilder, allegedly stole over $700,000 worth of Tiffany & Co. earrings and swallowed the evidence just before his arrest. On February 26, 2025, he entered the Tiffany & Co. store in the Mall at Millenia, Orlando, claiming to be a representative of an Orlando Magic basketball player. He was escorted to a VIP room where he was shown several pieces of high-end jewelry, including diamond earrings worth $160,000 and $609,000, as well as a diamond ring valued at $587,000. According to police, Gilder grabbed the items and struggled with store employees before fleeing, dropping the ring during the scuffle.
Jewelry heist follows dramatic escape
Surveillance footage captured Gilder leaving the scene in a blue Mitsubishi Outlander, which was later traced to a rental car in Houston. Authorities located the vehicle in Tallahassee, about 300 miles from Orlando, as Gilder was making his way back to Texas. As he was being taken into custody, Gilder allegedly swallowed several items. A scan at the Washington County Jail revealed foreign objects in his stomach, believed to be the stolen Tiffany earrings.
'I should have thrown them out the window', the robber reportedly said. Photo: NBC News
Thief's attempt to hide the stolen goods
While in custody, Gilder reportedly asked staff, “Am I going to be charged with what's in my stomach?” Police later confirmed that the stolen jewelry would need to pass through his system before being recovered. During his arrest, Gilder was heard saying, “I should have thrown them out the window,” suggesting he regretted swallowing the evidence.
Past crimes and ongoing investigation
Gilder was charged with grand theft and robbery with a mask. His clothing from the heist, including a white gauze bandage found in the stolen vehicle, was evidence that Gilder may have been attempting to conceal his identity during the crime. Authorities noted that Gilder had committed a similar robbery at another Tiffany & Co. location in Texas in 2022 and has multiple outstanding warrants in Colorado.