Yaorong Wan, accused of stealing $300,000 worth of diamond rings from luxury stores such as Cartier and Tiffany, has been arrested in Queens, marking the end of his alleged international crime spree.
Yaorong Wan, a 49-year-old international jewelry thief, was arrested in Queens, New York, after allegedly stealing $300,000 worth of diamond rings from high-end stores such as Cartier and Tiffany in Manhattan. This arrest marked the end of Wan’s extensive criminal activities, which included heists in multiple countries and regions including South Korea and Beverly Hills.
Wan reportedly employed a sleight-of-hand technique during his thefts. In one instance, he is accused of distracting a shop assistant in Manhattan while swapping a $255,000 diamond ring with a counterfeit cubic zirconia ring set in 18-carat white gold. Surveillance footage and witness statements have highlighted his method of replacing valuable items with fakes.
Further investigations revealed Wan’s involvement in similar thefts across various locations including Beverly Hills, Miami, New Jersey, and Long Island. When arrested, he was found in possession of stolen watches and counterfeit stones. Despite these allegations, Wan pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court.
