Posted on 01/27/2010 12:27:23 PM PST by La Enchiladita
Doris Payne, 79, whose life of crime is the subject of an upcoming Halle Berry film, is suspected of stealing a $1,300 Burberry trench coat at Saks Fifth Avenue.
In the decades she spent honing her craft, Doris Payne employed classic elegance, refined taste, Southern charm and a sleight of hand that could earn the envy of a talented magician.
Like the best illusionists, she had a knack for making things disappear.
Payne's life as an international jewel thief is the subject of an upcoming movie, "Who Is Doris Payne?" starring Halle Berry. But given the latest events in Orange County, the filmmakers may want to consider a new ending.
The 79-year-old was arrested Friday on suspicion of grand theft after security guards at the Saks Fifth Avenue store at South Coast Plaza accused her of taking the tags off a Burberry trench coat valued at $1,300 and walking out without paying, said Costa Mesa Police Lt. Mark Manley.
...In 1999, she was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison after stealing a 5-carat diamond ring from a Neiman Marcus in Denver. While on parole in 2005, she stole an $8,500 ring in Nevada and a $31,500, three-stone diamond ring in Palo Alto.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Hi, tongue-tied! You got it. She claims her first heist, in her 20s, was to pay for medical treatment for her ailing mother. A very common sob story thieves use.
Right up there with the excuses and lies used by perps on TruTV’s Bait Car. “I was just moving it for the owner...” Yeah, right.
And why they'd make a movie canonizing a 2nd rate cutpurse, I've no idea. Guess that Hollywood ran out of million dollar bankheists to talk about.
The truly sad thing is that she obviously could make a very nice HONEST living as a security consultant — not unlike what Frank “Catch Me If You Can” Abagnale ended up doing after his check-fraud “fun” days.
She’s a glorified shop-lifter! Abignale was a very talented forger and con-man who made good eventually. This only difference between this lady and a regular shoplifter is that she goes for more expensive items.
And they’ve made remakes of all the remakes, so they needed some fresh material.... gaaahhhhhh......
The part will be played by second rate actress Haille Berry.
Now, a movie like "The Thomas Crown Affair" (the remake with Pierce Brosnan) .... Decent flick with SMART crooks. Mrs. WBill liked it too, but I doubt for the same reasons that I did.
Pierce Brosnan... be still, my heart:)
“was to pay for medical treatment for her ailing mother.”
Read the article again. She was hoping to raise money to help her mother flee an abusive husband. (Which would be a pretty good sob story too;)
yep. Mrs WBill had much the same comment.
Watch the original “Thomas Crown Affait” -IMO that’s the better version. Faye Dunaway is hot enough to melt steel;)
Not seen it, Will need to check it out. Rene Russo wasn’t too bad to look at in the remake.
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