Man in Florida Swallows Allegedly Stolen Tiffany & Co. Jewelry
The suspect allegedly stole almost $800,000 worth of diamond jewelry from a store in Orlando and then swallowed it during a traffic stop.

Jaythan Lawrence Gilder, 32, of Houston, Texas, is accused of stealing nearly $800,000 worth of jewelry from the store on Feb. 26.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit filed in the case, an employee of the Tiffany & Co. store told police that Gilder posed as a representative for an Orlando Magic player who was looking to purchase diamond earrings and a diamond ring.
Due to the high value of the items, two employees led Gilder into a private viewing room, showing him a pair of 4.86-carat diamond solitaire earrings ($160,000), a pair of 8.19-carat diamond solitaire earrings ($609,500), and a 5.16-carat diamond solitaire ring ($587,000).
During the consultation, an employee told police that Gilder jumped out of his seat and grabbed all of the merchandise, injuring one employee as he fled, the affidavit states.
Gilder allegedly got away with the two pairs of earrings, valued at a combined $769,500.
One of the Tiffany employees managed to recover the ring by slapping it out of Gilder’s hand as he struggled to open the viewing room doors, according to the affidavit.
Based on video surveillance and employee interviews, officials said it was clear that the jewelry was “taken by force and fear … with resisting a merchant or battering a merchant.”
The getaway vehicle was seen in surveillance video and tracked using toll records and public safety cameras.
He was stopped by Florida Highway Patrol hours later due to a traffic violation.
As he was being taken into custody, he swallowed several items, suspected to be the stolen jewelry, the affidavit states, and a live scan at the Washington County Jail confirmed there were foreign objects in his stomach.
At the time of his arrest, Gilder was held on resisting charges separate from this incident and 48 separate “failure to appear” warrants from the state of Colorado.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for his vehicle and found Tiffany & Co. earrings forms and matching price tags.
They also found an arm bandage and a gauze nose covering in the vehicle. Gilder had no related injuries, said officials, who determined he wore these items, along with the hat, to try to disguise his identity.
At the jail, Gilder “spontaneously” asked staff, “Am I going to be charged with what’s in my stomach?,” as per the affidavit.
The arresting officer also allegedly heard Gilder say, “I should have thrown them out the window.”
Gilder is being charged with grand theft in the first degree and robbery with a mask.
A search of his criminal history found he had been charged with a “near identical” robbery/theft of a Tiffany & Co. store in Woodlands Township, Texas, in 2022, the affidavit notes.
The Latest

The family-owned retailer is the new owner of Morrison Smith Jewelers in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The “150 Art Deco” collection features a Miss America timepiece and a pocket watch from the brand’s Archive Series.

Alex Wellen, formerly CEO and president of MotorTrend Group, has taken on the role.

Bench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.

The Impact Initiative is part of the nonprofit association’s new three-year strategic plan.


The ruby and the sapphire, which Christie’s calls a “once-in-a-generation masterpiece,” are part of the upcoming Hong Kong jewelry auction.

The time to start experimenting with video content is now, writes columnist Emmanuel Raheb.

Natural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.

From striking high jewelry to miniature fine jewelry, the new chapter continues to highlight gemstones featuring its signature 57-facet cut.

The jewelry giant is reducing its senior leadership by 30 percent as part of its new turnaround strategy.

The auction house's partnership with online watch servicing platform WatchCheck makes repairs convenient and accessible, it said.

The company also noted record sales in the United States and a strong performance in its jewelry category.

The event, set for June 13-15, will feature educational presentations and guided visits to the state’s sapphire mines.

After the black enamel band became a best-seller for the brand, it has now launched an enamel ring personalization program.

The Austin, Texas, jeweler’s new 11,000-square-foot store is set to open this summer.

The rapper and singer-songwriter will perform at Tao Beach on June 8.

“Conversations with Chris Ploof” covers tips for men buying wedding bands, behind-the-scenes footage of Ploof in his studio, and more.

As lab-grown diamond brands pop up across India, academics are researching how to grow demand outside of the jewelry industry.

The moves are part of the retailer’s new turnaround plan, “Grow Brand Love,” which also includes emphasizing brand loyalty over store banners.

The “Rush Hour” campaign stars Zoë Kravitz in bold, wearable pieces designed to make a statement in the workplace.

Breitling is reviving Gallet, which was founded in 1826 and is known for making watches used in the early days of long-distance travel.

Dubbed the “Mediterranean Blue,” this “remarkably rare” diamond will be part of Sotheby’s May jewelry auction in Geneva.

The American Gem Society now offers a Jewelry Evaluation Advisor designation as well as an updated Certified Sales Associate designation.

Rebecca Zeijdel-Paz created more than 75 new pieces for the residency, which will be on display at Trove’s store in New York through April.

Smith explores why a qualified candidate might still not be right for the job.

The company and its marketing agency, Loudr, were recognized for the “Make You Dance” marketing campaign.

The “Series8” and “Attesa” collections will be grouped under Citizen Premier.