$770K Tiffany® Robbery Ended in Hospital Toilet
Jaythan Gilder didn't just allegedly steal diamonds — he swallowed them. And for nearly two weeks, detectives waited while his digestive system worked overtime on one of the most expensive thefts Orlando, Florida, has ever seen.
The Setup: Smooth Talker, Fake Name, Real Heist
On Feb. 26, 2025, 32-year-old Jaythan Gilder strolled into the Tiffany & Co.® store at the Mall at Millenia dressed not like a thief, but like a pro. He introduced himself as "Shawn," claiming he represented an Orlando Magic® player, and got escorted to a VIP room packed with sparkle. According to court documents, staff presented him with a pair of 4.86-carat diamond earrings valued at $160,000, another 8.19-carat pair worth $609,000, and a 5.61-carat diamond ring estimated at $587,000, NBC News reported.
Then Gilder pounced. He jumped up and grabbed the jewelry and bolted for the door. A quick-thinking employee yanked the ring out of his hand, but Gilder allegedly fled with the two pairs of earrings.
The Chase: License Plate, Long Drive, Late-Night Arrest
Orlando police moved fast. They tracked Gilder's getaway car using mall security footage and license plate reader technology. Later that night, officers pulled him over more than 300 miles away, west of Tallahassee, Florida. When they arrested him, Gilder pulled one last desperate move — he reportedly swallowed the stolen diamonds.
A scan at the Washington County Jail lit up with foreign objects in his stomach. According to the New York Times, Gilder asked a jail staffer, "Am I going to be charged with what's in my stomach?" The next day, authorities answered with formal charges: first-degree grand theft and robbery with a mask.
The Wait: 12 Days, 1 Hospital Bed, and a Lot of Patience
Gilder landed in a hospital under 24/7 watch. Detectives monitored him for more than 12 days, waiting for nature to take its course. Eventually, the diamonds reappeared the way no jeweler ever wants to see them.
Detectives rushed the recovered earrings back to Tiffany's. "We were able to bring them to Tiffany's, where they were cleaned, and their master jeweler confirmed the inscription and serial numbers matched the stolen pieces," Detective Aaron Goss said, as reported by NBC News.
The History: Not His First Diamond Digest
This wasn't Gilder's debut in jewelry theft. According to the New York Times, police linked him to an extremely similar operation at a Tiffany's in The Woodlands, Texas. He also holds 48 outstanding failure-to-appear warrants in Colorado.
The Lesson: Crime Doesn't Pay, but It Might Constipate
Gilder remains in custody in Orange County. Tiffany & Co. declined to comment. As for whether swallowing evidence counts as obstruction? Gilder may have answered his own question during transport.
According to the New York Times, an arresting officer allegedly overheard him say, "I should have thrown them out the window."
That would have made everyone's day a little easier.
References: Police Recover Diamond Earrings Worth $769,500 That Thief Swallowed | Thief who swallowed $770K worth of Tiffany earrings 'expelled' them over 12 days later, Florida police say
