World’s most notorious jewelry thief, Doris Payne otherwise known as Diamond, who stole for 50 years across 2 continents has finally been nabbed at th
World’s most notorious jewelry thief, Doris Payne otherwise known as Diamond, who stole for 50 years across 2 continents has finally been nabbed at the ripe old age of 85. A legendary jewelry thief, Doris Payne who is a career criminal and once wanted on two continents, was arrested when she was caught stealing earrings from an Atlanta department store.
Sweet, petite and immaculately turned out, Doris Payne an international jewelry thief gained infamy for a six-decade criminal career during which she traveled the world to swipe millions of dollars worth of jewels by making staff forget she was carrying them. Her incredible story has even been turned into a documentary – ‘The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne’. There is speculation that a biopic is in the works with Academy Award winner, Halle Berry set to star as Doris Payne.
Ten years ago, when she was 75 years old, the thief swore she was done with a lifetime of pilfering jewels across two continents. Several arrests later, in 2013, she said again that she was leaving that life behind. But it’s obvious old habits die hard. On a recent visit to Saks Fifth Avenue department store at a mall in Atlanta’s upscale Buckhead neighborhood, the octogenarian was allegedly unable to resist the lure of a bit of sparkle.
Unfortunately for her, authorities are now so familiar with her history that they were quick to catch her. A store security guard watching surveillance video saw Payne enter a Christian Dior boutique inside the department store and pocket a $690 pair earrings from a standing shelf. She was arrested in the mall and officers recovered the pricey earrings from her pocket. She is currently being held on shoplifting charges at Fulton County jail, and is also wanted for a similar offense by the sheriff’s office in Mecklenberg County, North Carolina.
Born to a coal mining father and a seamstress mother in the remote and impoverished town of Slab Fork, West Virginia, in 1930, Doris Marie Payne was the youngest of six children.
