The AP has a profile of Doris Payne, a 75-year-old woman who made her living as an international jewel thief. Payne would dress up as a high-society woman, go into jewelry shops, try on diamong rings, and walk out with one or two more on her fingers than she started with. Now she's in jail in Vegas, and has granted an extraordinary interview telling her life's story.
There was the February day, eight years ago, when she strolled into the Neiman Marcus store on the Las Vegas Strip and asked to see a pair of diamond earrings.
Hmm, she said. She'd think about it over lunch.
She returned and asked to see diamond rings. Employee Linda Sbrocco showed her several – this one … no, this one … how about that one? Soon Sbrocco was swapping jewelry in and out of cases at a dizzying pace. Payne slipped rings on and off, and had Sbrocco do the same.
Then Payne was gone. And so was a $36,000 marquis cut, 2.48-carat diamond ring.
This was how Doris Payne went about her work as an international jewel thief.
(via MeFi)
