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Left: Police photo of Jaythan Gilder (Orlando Police Department). Right: An X-ray of the allegedly stolen items inside Gilder’s stomach (Orlando Police Department).
A Texas man is in custody in Florida until he can get something out of his system — in this case, allegedly stolen property.
Jaythan Gilder, 32, was arrested following a brazen alleged robbery at an Orlando, Florida, Tiffany & Co. store at the Mall of Millenia on Feb. 26. The Orlando Police Department stated in an arrest affidavit that Gilder visited the store without an appointment and claimed to be at the store on behalf of a player for the Orlando Magic.
Using the name “Shawn,” he asked to see some pieces of jewelry and was brought to a VIP room by a store associate. While viewing the jewelry — and while being captured on security cameras — Gilder allegedly swiped the jewelry and then violently fled the store.
According to the affidavit, Gilder allegedly injured a store associate while trying to break out of the VIP room. The associate was treated at the scene and was able to provide a statement to Orlando police. Gilder had allegedly been able to get away with two pairs of diamond earrings, valued at $769,500 total.
Police were able to track Gilder’s movements on the mall’s surveillance cameras as he left the building and got into a vehicle in the parking lot. The vehicle’s tags were identified, and public safety cameras were able to follow as it traveled west. At some point, police said that Gilder allegedly switched the license plates and changed clothes, but they were still able to track the vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol soon caught up to Gilder and placed him under arrest. The affidavit then stated that after being taken into custody, “Gilder swallowed several items.” A live scan was taken at Washington County Jail, and “Gilder was found to have foreign objects in his stomach.” Those items were suspected to be the allegedly stolen earrings, but “will need to be collected by [the Washington County Sheriff’s Office] after they are passed through Gilder’s system prior to confirming.”
While at the Washington County Jail, the affidavit stated that Gilder asked, “Am I going to be charged with what’s in my stomach?” He later reportedly lamented, “I should have thrown them out the window.”
Gilder was charged with felony grand theft of $100,000 or more and robbery with a mask. He is currently being held in Orange County Corrections without bond.
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