Jaythan Gilder, a 32-year-old resident of Houston, made headlines for an unusual robbery at a Tiffany & Co. jewelry store in Orlando, Florida, which ended with the
The case has caught public attention due to the unusual way in which the suspect attempted to hide the stolen goods: by swallowing them.
The incident occurred on February 26, when Gilder entered the store of Tiffany & Co., located in a shopping mall in Orlando, wearing a red cap, a red Polo shirt, and very torn blue jeans.
According to the court documents obtained by CBS News, Gilder impersonated a representative of a professional player from the Orlando Magic basketball team, using the alias "Shawn," and indicated that he was managing a purchase on behalf of the athlete.
The store staff took him to the VIP room due to the value of the merchandise.
There, they showed her two pairs of diamond earrings and a diamond ring as well.
According to the store staff's report to the police, the earrings were valued at $160,000 and $609,500, respectively, and the ring at $587,000.
During the supposed negotiation, Gilder jumped from his seat, grabbed the jewelry, and tried to escape by violently pushing the sliding doors of the VIP room.
An employee tried to stop him, but Gilder violently pushed him, injuring his arms, according to the police report.
In the midst of the struggle, the thief dropped the ring but managed to escape with the earrings, running through the store and dodging the staff.
One of the employees told the police that she feared the suspect was armed, which led to a panic situation.
Finally, Gilder escaped through the main door and left the shopping mall.
Rapid location and a desperate attempt to hide evidence
Thanks to the security cameras at the shopping center and the parking lot, the police identified the getaway vehicle as a blue 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander.
With that information, the Florida Highway Patrol was notified, and that same night, before 8 p.m., they were able to stop the car for a traffic violation.
Although the arrest was initially not related to the theft, the driver -who turned out to be Gilder- resisted the investigation and was arrested on other charges.
Inside the vehicle, the agents found molds for earrings and price tags from Tiffany & Co.
During the arrest, Gilder swallowed several objects, and the agents heard him murmur: “I should have thrown them out the window.”
He was transferred to the Washington County jail, where a CT scan revealed foreign objects in his stomach.
The police suspected from that moment that Gilder had swallowed the stolen earrings, valued together at $769,500.
In jail, the suspect asked the staff, "Am I going to be charged for what I have in my stomach?"
A twelve-day medical-police marathon
The Orlando Police Department reported through its social media that Gilder was monitored by detectives at a local hospital for over a dozen days, waiting for him to expel the ingested objects.
Finally, the earrings were recovered and returned to Tiffany’s, where a master jeweler confirmed that the serial numbers matched those of the stolen pieces.
According to Goss, the items were cleaned and restored by the jewelry staff.
Charges and background: A repeated criminal record
Jaythan Gilder was charged with first-degree grand larceny and robbery with a mask, according to court documents.
Although he wasn't wearing a mask at the time of the robbery, he did have a gauze covering his nose, a bandage on his arm, and a hat.
According to the authorities, these objects were used to conceal their identity, which aligns with the legal definition of "robbery with a mask" in the state of Florida.
The individual is currently in custody at the Orange County jail, and their judicial history has revealed even more concerning details.
The police indicated that Gilder was accused of a nearly identical robbery at a Tiffany & Co. store in Texas in 2022. Additionally, he has a total of 48 outstanding warrants for failure to appear issued in the state of Colorado.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Unusual Robbery at Tiffany & Co. in Florida
How did the thief attempt to hide the stolen jewels in the case of Tiffany & Co.?
The thief, Jaythan Gilder, attempted to hide the jewels by swallowing them, which led to a twelve-day medical-police operation to recover them.
What was the value of the earrings stolen by Jaythan Gilder?
The two pairs of earrings stolen by Gilder were valued at a total of $769,500, with each pair being valued at $160,000 and $609,500, respectively.
What charges is Jaythan Gilder facing following the robbery at Tiffany & Co.?
Jaythan Gilder faces charges of first-degree grand theft and armed robbery, as he used items to conceal his identity during the crime.
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