A 50-year-old gem thief from Queens has admitted guilt in a scheme involving misdirection and counterfeit jewelry to steal diamonds worth over $260,000 from Tiffany & Company and Cartier.
Yaolong Wang faced the Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday, where he supposedly had been successful in lifting expensive items from the high-end retailers last March.
At Tiffany’s flagship store, Wang replaced a $225,000 diamond ring by using distraction methods and a replica ring.
Prosecutors stated that he visited the Tiffany store last year, inquiring about various gems. Allegedly, he swapped the real platinum ring for a fake zirconia and exited without making a purchase.
A week later, he targeted Cartier, absconding with a $24,000 ring while distracting the staff.
In the Cartier store located at Hudson Yards, Wang inquired about two engagement rings and two watches, managing to take one ring during a moment of distraction among the sales team.
Authorities noted that Wang’s tactics—swift hand movements, misdirection, and the strategic use of replica jewelry—are typical of the kind of high-end theft for which he gained notoriety.
Wang’s criminal activities have spanned various locations.
He was previously wanted by Interpol, connected to similar thefts in states like New Jersey, California, Florida, and even South Korea, related to a significant $330,000 diamond theft there.
Law enforcement indicated that he targeted both luxury global brands and smaller jewellers, executing thefts with remarkable precision.
Last April, at a jeweller in Manhasset, Nassau County, he allegedly employed a trick to steal Chopard watches valued over $17,000.
Wang is also suspected of stealing $332,000 worth of jewelry in Seoul back in 2018.
He was arrested last May at his residence in Flushing, Queens, as part of a coordinated investigation among the NYPD, Nassau County Police, and U.S. authorities. During his arrest, officers found numerous stolen items, including a missing $17,000 Chopard watch.
Facing multiple unresolved warrants, Wang pleaded guilty to second-degree grand theft. His sentencing is set for July 14, 2025, with a possible prison term ranging from three to nine years.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg commented, “The accused stole hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of high-end jewelry using deceptive and clever techniques. Thanks to the collaboration between law enforcement agencies, we have put an end to his global theft operation.”
