Doris Payne: 86-year-old international jewel thief arrested again after allegedly pocketing diamond necklace
Ms Payne's criminal record goes as far back as 1952, and she has conducted successful heists all around the world
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Police arrested an 86-year-old who was once a notorious jewel thief in the 1970s after she allegedly pocketed a $2,000 diamond necklace at at Atlanta-area department store.
Doris Payne now faces shoplifting charges related to the attempted theft at the Von Maur department store on Tuesday. According to Dunwoody police spokesperson, she was caught trying to slip the expensive accoutrement into her back pocket on her way out of the retailer.
Ms Payne was the subject of the 2013 documentary The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne, which chronicled her decades-long career of alleged thefts. Her criminal record dates back to 1952, with successful heists from San Diego to Monte Carlo, Las Vegas to Paris.
"There’s never been a day that I went to steal that I did not get what I went to do," she said in the film.
Court documents made reference to numerous alleged thefts over dating back to 1999 – including one incident last year when she was accused of stealing a pair of earrings valuing $690 from a Saks Fifth Avenue at an upscale shopping centre in Atlanta.
Ms Payne popped up on the radars of the industry trade group Jewelers’ Security Alliance in the 1970s when they began issuing bulletin warnings about her.
Ms Payne began stealing high-end jewelry in her 20s. She said she realised she could support herself by performing the lifts. Ms Payne also realised as a child that she could simply walk out of the store with an expensive item after a clerk let her try on watches and forgot.
“I don’t dictate what happens when I walk in the store. The people in charge dictate what happens with me when I walk in the store,” she said. “I don’t tell a person in the store I want to see something that costs $10,000.
“They make those decisions based on how I present myself and how I look."