Daijiworld Media Network- New York
New York, Jun 25: In a sensational revelation that stunned the global luxury jewellery industry, a 50-year-old man from Queens, New York, has pleaded guilty to orchestrating high-value thefts from renowned jewellery stores Tiffany & Co. and Cartier. The accused, Yaorong Wan, used masterful sleight-of-hand tricks and counterfeit diamonds to steal jewellery worth over $260,000 (approx. Rs 2.17 crore).
The Manhattan Supreme Court confirmed that Wan, a notorious international jewel thief, carried out the thefts in March 2024. At Tiffany’s iconic Fifth Avenue showroom, he replaced a $225,000 diamond ring with a forged replica. Just days later, he struck again — this time at Cartier in Hudson Yards, where he cleverly escaped with a $24,000 ring by distracting staff.
Authorities revealed that Wan’s swift and precise hand movements, combined with fake gems, matched a familiar pattern seen in similar high-profile thefts across the globe. His name had earlier appeared on Interpol’s watchlist for a $330,000 diamond theft in South Korea. He is also suspected of being behind luxury thefts in California, Florida, New Jersey, and on Long Island, where in April 2024, he allegedly stole a $17,000 Chopard watch using the same tactics.
Following an extensive multi-agency investigation, police arrested Wan from his residence in Flushing, Queens, in May 2024, and recovered several stolen items, including the Chopard watch.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, in a public statement, said: “This defendant used deceptive sleight-of-hand techniques to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of high-end jewelry. Thanks to the cooperation of law enforcement agencies, his international theft network has now been dismantled.”
Wan, currently being held without bail due to multiple pending warrants, will be sentenced on July 14, 2025, and faces a jail term ranging from three to nine years under second-degree grand larceny charges.
The incident has sent shockwaves through global luxury brands, raising serious concerns about high-end retail security in the digital age.