Key Takeaways:

• Jaythan Gilder, 32, allegedly stole nearly $770,000 worth of jewelry from Tiffany & Co.
• During his arrest, he was seen swallowing diamond earrings.
• Gilder previously faced similar charges and has multiple warrants against him.

In a bizarre theft incident, a Texas man, Jaythan Gilder, aged 32, has been charged with stealing two pairs of diamond earrings and a diamond ring from a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando, Florida. The total value of the stolen items is approximately $769,500 as reported by several outlets including CBS News.

On February 26, Gilder reportedly told the store employees he was there to facilitate a purchase on behalf of a player from the Orlando Magic. While inside the store, he was ushered into a VIP room due to the high-value nature of the items, which included diamond earrings valued at $160,000 and $609,500, along with a diamond ring worth $587,000. However, during the meeting, he abruptly fled the room, grabbing the earrings and trying to escape, leading to a physical altercation with a store employee.

Subsequent to his escape, police tracked Gilder using mall security footage and identified his vehicle. He was apprehended on Interstate 10 after being pulled over for a traffic violation. A trooper reportedly overheard Gilder state, “I should have thrown them out the window,” as he was placed under arrest for resisting. Upon arriving at the Washington County Jail, authorities detected that he had swallowed several foreign objects, which are believed to be the stolen earrings, as confirmed by an X-ray revealed by BBC.

The police report indicated that medical assistance might be necessary to recover the items once they have passed through Gilder's digestive system. In addition to the theft charges, Gilder has a noteworthy criminal history with a prior similar robbery recorded in Texas and currently 48 outstanding warrants in Colorado.

Gilder has since been charged with grand theft in the first degree and robbery with a mask, according to reports by HuffPost and others, leading to significant developments in this remarkable case.

The ongoing situation raises concerns over the security in high-end retail environments and the lengths individuals will go to commit theft. Law enforcement continues to monitor Gilder's case as it unfolds.

For further details, refer to this comprehensive account by Channel News Asia.