She’s not your average grandmother, 84 year-old Doris Payne may look like a cute, little, old lady but she’s far from it. Payne is a convicted jewel thief who has done hard time for her infamous international jewelry swipes. Police believe the elderly woman is back to heisting jewelry after $33,000 engagement ring from the David Yurman store was stolen from a North Carolina Mall. Hit the jump for more details.
Emails were circulated by Charlotte, NC police to nearby jewelry stores warning the employees that Payne “is very good. She fooled the manager at David Yurman.” They describe her tricks saying she used, “slight of hand tactic.” The tactic involved quickly concealing the jewels and walking out of the store.
Police belive Payne may be using the alias Amy Dillard and she was first spotted by a Tiffany & Co. employee. Her photo has been posted in several stores in the upscale mall so shoppers and employees know who to look out for.
Payne is a notoriously infamous thief who has successfully pulled off jewel heists in Greece, Switzerland, Britain and France. Her life was once in the works to be made into a movie and Halle Berry would star as Panye.
Diamonds Direct’s Vice President, Dovy Karberg spoke about Panye’s reputation in the jewelry industry. She said, “Doris Payne is certainly infamous and she is a fascinating woman,” she added, “It’s outstanding that in her 80s she is charismatic enough to continue to pull this off. The way she carries herself, you would never assume she’d pulled off this level of heist.”
Payne was most recently busted by police back in September 2014 after she stole a diamond ring in California. She was released from jail back in October. Police have not commented on any lead for her most recent heist.
Click the gallery to see photos of Doris Payne over the years.
Source People
