America’s ‘oldest jewel thief’ released after arrest over shoplifting at Walmart

Doris Payne, who has stolen about $2 million in jewels over 60 years, was recently arrested at a Walmart outlet.

An 87-year-old dubbed as America’s oldest jewel thief has been let off with a warning, according to a report.

A documentary titled The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne was produced in 2013 to detail the story of the jewel thief. (YouTube/The Life And Crimes Of Doris Payne)

Doris Payne, who has stolen about $2 million in jewels over 60 years, was recently arrested at a Walmart outlet, The Independent reported. “Don’t come back, Ms Payne,” a judge told the woman while hearing a shoplifting case against her.

“I won’t,” Payne told the judge. She was pleading guilty to theft and was given credit for 58 days served from July through September, the report said.

The 87-year-old was arrested in July after stealing $86.22 worth of items from a pharmacy, electronics and grocery departments. When she was picked up by the police, Payne was under house arrest for having stolen a necklace from a mall in 2016.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “over the years, Payne has dressed in fine clothes with deep pockets, charmed sales workers at high-end department stores, distracted them and slipped out with expensive jewellery.”

A documentary titled The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne was produced in 2013 to detail the story of the jewel thief. The documentary tells the story of how “she ‘took’ a piece of jewelry at the age of 10”.