75-year-old jewel thief looks back

November 20, 2005 8:32 PM

75-year-old jewel thief looks back. "When Doris Payne went to work, she stepped into her fancy dress, high heels and donned a wide-brimmed hat. Her creamy, mocha skin was made up just so, her handbag always designer."
posted by 445supermag (18 comments total)

Wow, that was a great read.

It brings to mind the movie Catch Me if You Can.

Thanks for the link.
posted by tozturk at 9:02 PM on November 20, 2005

[this is good]
posted by killdevil at 9:07 PM on November 20, 2005

I enjoyed that, thanks
posted by shadystone at 9:17 PM on November 20, 2005

very cool, excellent link
posted by cyphill at 9:26 PM on November 20, 2005

I've always enjoyed stories of con wo/men and thier ilk. It's even better when it's a true story
posted by the giant pill at 9:34 PM on November 20, 2005

Good story. Thanks, 445supermag.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:11 PM on November 20, 2005

Good story. Reminds me of something I've felt bad about for a long time.

Years ago I was helping a friend who owned a pawn shop. Two young black women came in and wanted to see some rings in a tray. I pulled out the tray and when they started grabbing at the rings, I pulled it away and told them, "Only one ring at a time."

I was careful, I watched them closely. But their hands moved faster than I could react and -- poof -- a ring was missing. I told them to put it back. "What ring? I got nothing!," they said. Their hands were empty. I couldn't strip search them and they knew it. I started to doubt myself. Was there a ring missing?

The place was crowded. They kept asking me questions, chattering and looking at the rings. Then they just left. I felt terrible. When I told my friend what happened, he just smiled and said, "That ring wasn't worth $5" -- in spite of the $200+ price tag.

So, I'm not sure who was getting ripped off . . .
posted by AJ at 12:38 AM on November 21, 2005 [1 favorite]

Great story. International Jewel Thief is such an exclusive resume entry.

Thanks for the link.
posted by planetkyoto at 1:08 AM on November 21, 2005

It's amazing how we view crimes. Mugging a little old lady or embezlling millions from your company are hated crimes, but walking in and charming people does something to us. We ourselves are charmed by it, I guess. Great story - and one I'd love to hear told by the lady herself.
posted by twine42 at 2:06 AM on November 21, 2005

I enjoyed that story.
posted by srboisvert at 2:28 AM on November 21, 2005

Mugging a little old lady or embezlling millions from your company are hated crimes, but walking in and charming people does something to us.

I think there's some jealousy involved. Nobody envies a mugger or an embezzler, after all, but we'd love to be as charismatic as this woman obviously is.

It's hard to look down on her when what you really want is to be her.
posted by nebulawindphone at 5:23 AM on November 21, 2005

It's hard to look down on her when what you really want is to be her.

Well said.
posted by codswallop at 6:33 AM on November 21, 2005

Fascinating story, thank you 445supermag.
posted by ceri richard at 6:43 AM on November 21, 2005

I agree with twine42...I'd really like to see someone go film this womans story straight from her.

nebulawindphone nailed it as well.
posted by gren at 6:50 AM on November 21, 2005

It's hard to look down on her when what you really want is to be her.

It's easy. Just remember that for every item she stole, somebody had to pay for it - and that it was most likely you, in the form of increased insurance costs, lost wages, wasted prison costs, and so on. A complete rehabiitative failure.
posted by FormlessOne at 10:09 AM on November 21, 2005

Sure, you saps get all misty over this black woman who stole jewels. But if you replace "black" with "white" and "woman" with "man" and "jewels" with "Enron Employee Pensions", where's your fondness then? WHERE IS YOUR FONDNESS THEN?
posted by notmydesk at 10:14 AM on November 21, 2005

Sorry , could you repeat the question please ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 10:41 AM on November 21, 2005

It's like Carmen Sandiego becomes the old woman from Dirty Dancing. I like it! Thanks.
posted by booksandlibretti at 1:23 PM on November 21, 2005