Vacation selfies gave her away: Woman arrested for jewel theft after showing off in photos

Anyone that’s ever watched ‘Goodfellas’ knows that if you’ve made out with massive haul of loot, you keep a low profile and don’t go about flaunting your ill-gotten proceeds. It’s a good way to get pinched, or as in the movie have a very unhappy ending.

However, Lucy Roberts from East Yorkshire either never saw the movie or didn’t learn that lesson. Humberside Police were waiting for the 39-year-old at Heathrow when she returned from a cruise she had taken. She made the classic mistake of the modern age and shared some photos of herself with “friends” and on social media along with some incriminating evidence.

“Arrogantly posed on social media”

Prior to the cruise Roberts had worked at a luxury jewelry store in Beverley, which she managed. She began taking store merchandise home with her telling people that she “was conducting work at home and sorting stock for the workshop” when questioned.

In reality she was taking a five-finger store discount, helping herself to hundreds of items including “diamonds, silver, gold and bespoke jewelry pieces.” After a year she had had her fill so she quit her job and went on holiday.

As has been the downfall of several crooks, she “arrogantly posed on social media and sent pictures boasting to her ex-colleagues” while having a whale of a time on the cruise “without a care in the world, dripping in diamonds” according to a police statement. Those co-workers knew that she hadn’t purchased the luxury jewelry she was wearing and they informed the area manager who in turn contacted the police.

“Jewelry strewn around...wearing a substantial amount”

Officers conducted a search of her home where they found “thousands of pounds worth of jewelry strewn around in boxes beneath the bed and in cupboards” in her bedroom. When they met up with Roberts at the airport she was “wearing a substantial amount of stolen jewelry.” Even more was found in her suitcase.

As they escorted her through Heathrow she attempted to dispose of some of the stolen goods on her person by removing them. Under questioning, she denied that she had stolen the jewelry and said that a former colleague at the store had lent some of it to her. The rest of the stolen goods that were found at her house she said must have been planted by the same person.

In total 269 items were recovered from her house worth around $150,000, and another $20,000 worth on her and in her suitcase when she was arrested. She has been sentenced to 28 months in jail.

“I am pleased she is now behind bars and I hope it will give her ample time to think about the crime she committed and how it has impacted not only the company, but the colleagues who considered her a friend and who were betrayed by her in such a trusted role,” said Detective Sergeant Krista Wilkinson.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.