Chinese international jewel thief Yaorong Wan, who was arrested just last Friday (May 3), had his girlfriend break her silence to the media, revealing that her boyfriend is “Chinese” and generous, gifting her diamond rings, saying “he deceived my heart”. Authorities also stated that he was a Chinese middleman who sneaked across the southwest border.
Wan, known as a master thief, targeted high-end jewelry stores in international cities, including Los Angeles, Miami, New Jersey, Long Island, and even Korea. He was finally caught in New York, with his focus primarily on diamond rings and luxury watches. He skillfully used counterfeit goods prepared in advance to swap for genuine items under surveillance cameras from all directions.
According to the indictment, 49-year-old Wan was arrested last Friday for stealing a $250,000 diamond ring from Tiffany at the Rockefeller Center in Manhattan on March 4, as well as a $2.5 million diamond ring from Cartier at Hudson Yards.
It is known that Wan at least gave one of the stolen rings to his girlfriend. Recently, the girlfriend came forward, describing Wan as a “charming” man who gifted her jewelry, saying “he stole my heart”.
The girlfriend, interviewed by the Daily News, claimed she was unaware that the jewelry was stolen, as Wan only told her they were “second-hand” pieces.
The woman, appearing to be in her 40s, said they met in January in Los Angeles, where Wan used the alias “Wen San”. She quickly fell in love with him and followed him to live in Queens, New York, where she often saw him bring jewelry home.
When Wan was arrested, the woman was by his side, and she later disposed of the jewelry he had given her.
According to the Nassau County Police Department, South Korea has issued an arrest warrant for Wan for stealing jewelry worth $332,000 in Seoul on September 30, 2018.
Wan has also been identified as the prime suspect in a series of thefts at Cartier stores in California and Miami.
Currently, Wan is being held in Nassau County, with bail set at $500,000 in cash or a $1 million bond.
Additionally, according to the Daily Mail, Wan illegally entered the U.S. from the California-San Diego border on December 29 as a Chinese middleman immigrant and was later released.