A Texas man, Jaythan Gilder, is accused of stealing nearly $770,000 in jewelry from a Tiffany & Co. store in Florida. In an attempt to avoid being caught, he allegedly swallowed the stolen items, which police recovered nearly two weeks later after closely monitoring him.
The Theft
On February 26, 2025, Gilder entered a Tiffany & Co. store, claiming he was brokering a jewelry purchase for a professional basketball player. Dressed in a red Polo shirt, ripped jeans, and a red hat, he was taken to the VIP section to view luxury pieces, including two sets of diamond earrings valued at $160,000 and $609,500, along with a diamond ring worth $587,000.
While inspecting the items, he suddenly grabbed the jewelry and tried to escape. During a struggle with a store employee, the diamond ring fell, but he managed to flee with the earrings. Staff members, fearing he could be armed, did not intervene. Gilder exited the mall and drove off in a blue Mitsubishi Outlander, disappearing into traffic.
Police Pursuit and Arrest
Authorities tracked Gilder using security footage and toll data, locating his vehicle later that evening. Florida Highway Patrol officers pulled him over and arrested him near a highway exit.
During the arrest, police found Tiffany & Co. items inside the car. Gilder was heard saying, “I should have thrown them out the window.” A medical scan later revealed he had swallowed multiple objects, which were believed to be the stolen earrings. Officers closely monitored him for days, awaiting recovery of the items.
Criminal Charges
Gilder now faces several charges, including grand theft and robbery. Although he was not wearing a mask, officers classified the crime as “robbery with a mask” due to his use of gauze bandages and arm coverings, which could meet the legal definition of a disguised robbery.
Nearly two weeks after his arrest, law enforcement successfully retrieved the stolen jewelry, uncovering Gilder’s unusual attempt to conceal the valuable items. The case has drawn significant attention due to the bizarre nature of the theft and the extreme measures taken to hide the stolen goods.
