ORLANDO, Fla. — A man is accused of stealing $769,500 worth of earrings from an Orlando jewelry store, before swallowing them when he was taken into custody, police said.

The Orlando Police Department (OPD) said 32-year-old Jaythan Gilder was shown two pairs of earrings worth $769,500 at Tiffany & Co. in the Mall at Millenia. Employees said an unknown male suspect arrived at the store claiming to represent an Orlando Magic player. OPD said Gilder forcefully took the earrings and “resisted an employee’s attempts to stop him.” 

Gilder then entered a vehicle and fled. Detectives identified the vehicle and said it was heading toward Texas, police said. It never left Florida.

Florida Highway Patrol spotted the vehicle driving without rear lights on Interstate 10 in rural Washington County. The driver was identified as Gilder, police said. 

When Gilder was taken into custody, he resisted arrest and was seen swallowing several objects believed to be the stolen earrings, according to OPD. With assistance from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, investigators executed a search warrant to locate the stolen property.

Police said Gilder’s criminal history revealed a similar robbery in 2022 at a Tiffany & Co. store in The Woodlands, Texas, and that he had 48 separate warrants out of Colorado. 

Gilder was charged with robbery with a mask and grand theft, involving stolen goods valued at $100,000 or more.

According to an affidavit acquired by WESH, Gilder spontaneously asked jail staff, “Am l going to be charged with what’s in my stomach?”