Jewelry Store Manager Jailed After Selfie Sting
A former UK jewelry store manager is serving a prison sentence after she flaunted stolen merchandise on social media. Her brazen behavior, including selfies and incriminating messages to former coworkers, led to her downfall, highlighting the risks of theft and the role of social media in uncovering crime.
The Accusation
A former jewelry store manager, Lucy Roberts, 39, received a 28-month prison sentence for theft. She took jewelry home while employed, telling her coworkers that she was “conducting work at home and sorting stock for the workshop.” Authorities discovered her deception after she quit and began posting selfies of herself wearing the stolen items while on vacation.
According to Humberside police, when Roberts was arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport, she was found “wearing a substantial amount of stolen jewelry.” She had more pilfered merchandise in her suitcase.
“Without a care in the world, dripping in diamonds, thinking she had deceived everybody,”
Police reports show that Roberts initially denied any wrongdoing, claiming she borrowed the jewelry. However, she later pleaded guilty to the charges. This type of crime is more common than one might think; retail theft cost businesses nearly $100 billion in 2022 (National Retail Federation).
Details of the Crime
Roberts stole more than $170,000 in diamonds, gold, silver, “bespoke jewelry,” and cash from her employer. Police found jewelry “strewn around in boxes beneath the bed and in cupboards” during a search of her home, according to the statement.
Body camera footage shows Roberts removing more jewelry “as she was escorted through Heathrow Airport … in an attempt to dispose of it,” police added.
The store where Roberts formerly worked said it is “pleased to finally have closure on the matter after several years,” according to the news release.
