A suspect attempting to steal diamond earrings from luxury brand Tiffany in the United States was arrested and reportedly swallowed the jewelry during the apprehension. This unusual incident has made law enforcement difficult, as they are waiting for the suspect to pass $770,000 worth of precious stones through his digestive system.
On Thursday, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that a 32-year-old man was arrested on a highway near Washington County. He is accused of robbing an upscale shopping center in Orlando.
On February 26, the suspect entered a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando under false pretenses, claiming he was purchasing diamond earrings and a ring for an Orlando Magic basketball player. Store personnel escorted him to a VIP room for a private jewelry viewing.
The situation suddenly turned when the suspect leaped up, snatched the earrings and ring, and attempted to flee. During the struggle, an employee was injured, but they managed to retrieve a diamond ring valued at $587,000 from the suspect.
Authorities identified the suspect’s vehicle through mall surveillance footage and determined he was heading toward Texas. Using a license plate tracking system, they located the car and arrested the suspect near Washington County, where he was driving with his taillights off.
Police reported that the suspect expressed remorse in the patrol car, stating that he should have just thrown it out the window. Later, while at the jail, he inquired whether he was being charged because of what was in his stomach.
An X-ray image released by Orlando police showed a white mass inside the suspect’s digestive tract. Law enforcement officials stated, “We believe this to be the stolen Tiffany earrings and will recover them once they are expelled.”
The police department confirmed and verified whether the earrings had been recovered.
The suspect is facing felony robbery charges and is being held at the Orange County Jail in Orlando. He has not yet retained legal counsel. He also has a history of similar offenses, including a theft at a Tiffany store in Texas in 2022. He is known to be a repeat offender with 48 outstanding arrest warrants in Colorado.