Detectives have successfully retrieved four diamond earrings from a suspected thief two weeks after he swallowed Tiffany & Co. jewellery valued at nearly $1.2 million (approximately $770,000 AUD) during an arrest on a Florida highway, according to authorities. The final pair of earrings was recovered last week, as confirmed by the Orlando Police Department.
The first three earrings, along with two additional unidentified diamond earrings, were found just two days prior to the last recovery. The suspect had been moved from jail to a hospital as investigators awaited the recovery of the stolen items.
All four earrings were confirmed to match the serial numbers of the jewellery taken from a Tiffany store in Orlando. Following the recovery, the Texas man was taken to Orange County Jail and is facing charges including robbery with a mask and first-degree grand theft.
During the incident, the suspect pretended to be interested in purchasing diamond earrings and a ring on behalf of an Orlando Magic player. Sales staff led him to a VIP room to view items, but he quickly attempted to escape with the jewellery. Authorities obtained his vehicle’s licence plate from mall security footage, leading them to believe he was en route to Texas.
Law enforcement tracked the vehicle using tag readers on the Florida Turnpike and Interstate 10, ultimately stopping it after noticing the car lacked rear lights. Upon being apprehended, the suspect reportedly expressed regret for not disposing of the jewellery, and later in jail, he inquired about potential charges related to items he had ingested.