Orlando Police have arrested 32-year-old Jaythan Gilder, charging him with first-degree grand theft after he allegedly stole several pieces of jewelry, including two pairs of earrings valued at $769,500. Gilder’s arrest came after a dramatic attempt to evade capture—police say they observed him swallowing stolen jewelry as officers moved in to arrest him.
Authorities later obtained a warrant and discovered that Gilder had swallowed several pieces of jewelry during his escape attempt. Gilder now faces similar charges in El Paso County, where he is believed to have committed other thefts.
According to an arrest affidavit, Gilder posed as a representative of an Orlando Magic basketball player and used this false identity to gain access to a private room at Tiffany & Co. Employees, unaware of the scam, allowed him into the room to view the jewelry, which was valued at $1,356,500. It was there that Gilder allegedly took the jewelry, pushed past a store employee attempting to stop him, and fled the scene.
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