By
Bloomberg
Published
June 24, 2025
A man searched by Interpol declared himself guilty on Monday to steal $ 260,000 in Tiffany & Co. diamonds and Cartier last year through a series of tricks “Sleight-Of-Hand”.
Yaorong Wan, 50, admitted to having changed a ring of diamonds worth $ 225,000 for a false one and then leaving the Tiffany flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York in March 2024. Approximately a week later, a $ 24,000 ring was pocketed in the Cartier store in Hudson Yards, according to the Office of the District Prosecutor of Manhattan.
Wan, who was previously wanted for a theft of diamonds of $ 330,000 in Korea and was the subject of an arrest warrant for Interpol, faces so many nine years in prison when he is sentenced next month. From last year, it was also a main suspect in robberies in the jewels in New Jersey, California and Florida, said the prosecutor's office.
“New York is a global fashion capital, and we will continue working with our law partners to keep mothers and pop stores and high -end retailers safe,” said District prosecutor Alvin Bragg in a statement.
The prosecutors said Wan entered the Tiffany store last year and asked about several pieces of jewels, including the stolen ring. He changed the real ring mounted on platinum for a cubic zirconium replica and left the store without buying anything, said the prosecutor.
In the Cartier store in Hudson Yards, Wan looked two compromise rings and two watches, but could slide a ring in his pocket while the seller was distracted.
Tiffany and Cartier did not respond to requests for comments. Wan lawyers could not be contacted immediately to comment.
