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A man impersonating a representative of a professional basketball player is accused of swallowing stolen Tiffany & Co. jewelry valued at several hundred thousand dollars, according to court documents. Law enforcement reported a lengthy recovery effort that extended over 12 days.
Jaythan Gilder, a 32-year-old from Houston, Texas, allegedly executed the theft at a Tiffany store located in an Orlando mall on February 26, based on an arrest affidavit examined by CBS News. Donning a distinctive red hat, a red Polo shirt, and significantly distressed blue jeans, Gilder reportedly told the store’s employees that he was named Shawn and was negotiating a sale on behalf of an Orlando Magic player.
Due to the nature of the items being discussed, store staff ushered Gilder into a VIP room. The luxury assets on display included two pairs of diamond earrings and a diamond ring, with values ranging from $160,000 to $609,500 for the earrings and $587,000 for the ring, as reported by employees.
While the discussion was underway in the VIP room, Gilder allegedly sprang from his chair, seized the jewelry, and attempted to force his way out by “violently pushing and pulling” on the sliding doors. In the ensuing struggle, store associate Amit Nayee intervened but was reportedly harmed by Gilder’s aggressive actions, leaving visible injuries.
During the altercation, Gilder dropped the diamond ring but managed to escape with the earrings. Witnesses reported that he navigated through the store while evading several staff members, with one employee fearing that he might be armed. He fled through the front doors and exited the mall, prompting a swift response from security.
Surveillance footage captured a man resembling Gilder entering a blue 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander in the mall parking lot. Authorities were able to track the vehicle’s movements using public safety cameras and toll records. The Florida Highway Patrol was alerted about the car, leading to a traffic stop shortly before 8 p.m. on the same day.
Upon being pulled over, the driver reportedly resisted arrest and was apprehended on separate charges. Officials identified Gilder as the driver, discovering earring forms and price tags from Tiffany’s on the floor of the vehicle.
As he was apprehended, Gilder allegedly swallowed multiple items and reportedly remarked, “I should have thrown them out the window.” After being transported to the Washington County Jail, a live scan indicated the presence of foreign objects in his stomach, which police suspect includes the stolen earrings valued at a combined total of $769,500.
Store associate Nayee identified Gilder in a jail lineup. At the jail, Gilder reportedly inquired whether he would face charges related to what was in his stomach.
The Orlando Police Department noted on social platforms that Gilder was under surveillance by detectives at a local hospital for more than 12 days until the earrings were eventually expelled from his body. Detective Aaron Goss described the case as a “marathon, not a sprint.” He affirmed that the jewelry was returned to Tiffany’s, where it was confirmed to have matching serial numbers with the stolen items, and the earrings were subsequently cleaned by the store’s master jeweler.
Gilder faces serious charges, including first-degree grand theft and robbery with a mask, despite not being masked during the robbery. He was wearing a gauze nose covering and an arm bandage, which, according to police, qualifies as using items to conceal his identity under state law, thus characterizing the offense as robbery with a mask. Both charges are classified as felonies.
As per online records, Gilder remains in custody at the Orange County Jail. Reports indicate that a search of his criminal history revealed a previous similar robbery at a Tiffany & Co. store in Texas in 2022. Additionally, he is being held on 48 separate warrants for failing to appear related to cases in Colorado.
Source
www.cbsnews.com