She was tall, elegant, well-dressed, and well-spoken.
She never carried a weapon, broke into a store, or held anyone up.
But for five decades, Doris Payne made a career of stealing expensive jewelry from upscale stores.
She had a simple, effective strategy: “Pick a nice store and look like you belong there. Make sure your well-cut outfit has deep pockets.”
Once inside the store, Doris would have the clerk bring out several pieces of jewelry for her to try on.
When she decided which piece to steal, she would make sure the clerk first saw her wearing that piece, and then saw her without it.
In the confusion of having several pieces of jewelry out, it was easy for Doris to slip the chosen piece into one of her deep pockets.
As a jewelry artist who has had my own jewelry shoplifted once at a show, Doris’ story fascinates me.
I also think it’s a good cautionary tale about the need for vigilance for anyone who sells jewelry by any method.
You can read Doris’ full story in this Los Angeles Times article: Too Elegant to Be a Jewelry Thief.
I also highly recommend visiting the Jewelers’ Security Alliance website. It has lots of helpful info on jewelry crime, including videos of actual jewelry thefts.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
This is why I sell ONLINE only haha, Great blog I love reading it!
Thank you for the info. But what do you do when you think that she has a peace in her pocket? I have had this problem with earrings, they just disappeard and she had them in her hand. But what do you do. Let them get away with it? I wanted to call security at the craft show.
@Amanda - Thanks for reading!
@Patricia - I’d be hesitant to confront her in your booth, in case you were somehow mistaken, and also so as not to alienate other customers in your booth.
But if possible, I’d call the show’s security via cell phone the moment she stepped out of your booth and give them a complete description of her, including what you think may be in her pocket.
Before a show, it’s a good idea to get the number for the show’s security and/or management - preferrably get more than one number, and at least one of them a cell phone number - so you can get assistance of any kind if you need it during the show.