Headlines

85-Year-Old Doris Payne, a Career Jewelry Thief, Reveals Her Secret for Pulling Off Countless Heists

Never once has she concealed the goods, so she claims.

Published

8 years ago

February 2, 2016

INSTORE Staff

Doris Payne has been pilfering jewelry around the world for more than six decades, but there’s only one trick she uses to make a clean getaway, she tells the Associated Press. It all comes down to inspiring trust. “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,” the 85-year-old career thief told the AP, who notes her calm and deliberate manner of speaking. “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.” She claims that she has never had to conceal the merchandise before walking out of the store.

But her tactics aren’t perfect. The report says that she has done prison time repeatedly, and there are pending charges against her stemming from an October arrest in which she was accused of pocketing a $690 pair of earrings from a Saks Fifth Avenue department store in Atlanta. Authorities, however, believe that she has gotten away with far more crimes than ones for which she was caught.

This Third-Generation Jeweler Was Ready for Retirement. He Called Wilkerson

Retirement is never easy, especially when it means the end to a business that was founded in 1884. But for Laura and Sam Sipe, it was time to put their own needs first. They decided to close J.C. Sipe Jewelers, one of Indianapolis’ most trusted names in fine jewelry, and call Wilkerson. “Laura and I decided the conditions were right,” says Sam. Wilkerson handled every detail in their going-out-of-business sale, from marketing to manning the sales floor. “The main goal was to sell our existing inventory that’s all paid for and turn that into cash for our retirement,” says Sam. “It’s been very, very productive.” Would they recommend Wilkerson to other jewelers who want to enjoy their golden years? Absolutely! “Call Wilkerson,” says Laura. “They can help you achieve your goals so you’ll be able to move into retirement comfortably.”