A man posing as an NBA agent was arrested last week after allegedly stealing $769,000 worth of earrings from a Tiffany & Co. store and attempting to cover his tracks by swallowing the high-priced jewelry when confronted by police.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ Sports, the Orlando Police Department reported that Jaythan Gilder entered the Tiffany & Co. store at the Mall at Millenia, claiming he was shopping on behalf of an Orlando Magic player. Store staff escorted him to a VIP room, where he browsed high-end pieces. However, things quickly turned when Gilder allegedly grabbed a ring and a pair of earrings before making a run for it.
As he bolted, one store associate knocked the ring out of his hand, but he still escaped with the earrings. Police tracked down the 33-year-old suspect shortly after, and during his arrest, officers claim he swallowed the stolen jewelry in an attempt to hide the evidence.
A scan at a nearby jail reportedly confirmed the presence of the suspected earrings inside Gilder’s stomach. Authorities stated that the items “will need to be collected after they are passed through Gilder’s system prior to confirming.”
Gilder now faces two felony charges, including robbery with a mask and grand theft in the first degree.