Internationally known accused jewelry thief pleads not guilty

By Matt Pordum

Friday, Aug. 19, 2005 | 9 a.m.

Doris Payne, a 74-year-old internationally known, accused jewelry thief, pleaded not guilty to one count each of burglary and grand larceny in District Court on Thursday, but had another case concerning shoplifting put on hold so she could hire a lawyer.

Payne is scheduled to stand trial March 21, 2006, before District Judge David Wall in the theft of a 1.5-carat diamond solitaire ring worth $8,499 from Brendan Diamonds, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South, on March 30.

Metro Police allege Payne later pawned the ring at Ace Jewelers for $7,000.

Payne's preliminary hearing for allegedly stealing $2,700 worth of women's underwear on July from the Neiman Marcus store in Fashion Show mall on July 13 was rescheduled to Aug. 25 after Payne said she wanted to hire a lawyer.

She had been arrested after an employee at the Las Vegas Valley Neiman Marcus recognized Payne as the woman who was suspected of stealing a ring from another Neiman Marcus store in Northern California, he said.

Payne was wanted in California in the theft of a $31,500 ring from one of the chain's stores in Palo Alto, according to that city's police department.

Described as a classy dresser and "disarmingly charming" by the media, Payne has allegedly spent more than five decades stealing jewelry across the United States and Europe and has been responsible for more than 400 thefts, according to news reports.

She reportedly used multiple aliases and served time in Monte Carlo, England and in at least six U.S. states. In Las Vegas, Payne was originally booked for larceny, burglary, stolen property under the name "Louise Davis," according to the Clark County Detention Center.

Payne's alleged method of theft is simple, according to news reports and the Palo Alto Police: She walks into a jewelry store wearing elegant clothing and chats up the salesperson. When the salesperson is sufficiently distracted, she simply walks off with the jewelry.