Is it just me or does every jewelry lover have a little bit of a warm spot in their heart for Doris Payne, the jewel thief with the elegant manner? Payne, who will be played by Halle Berry in an upcoming movie, is a graceful beauty with a regal style. That style helped her charm her way into stores, try on whatever she liked and then manage to distract the clerk and tuck a few baubles in her pockets. This was probably not an easy feat for an African-American woman 50 years ago. Payne’s career of crime took her all around the world. But although her glamorous life of crime makes a great movie the reality is a little less cinematic. Last week she was arrested in Orange County, California, accused of taking the tags off a Burberry trench coat and walking out without paying. Payne has proved before that she can’t stay away from stealing. She was sent to prison in 1999 but then while on parole in 2005 she stole two more rings and was sentenced to more time in jail. She finally was out and on parole in 2008 but whether she hasn’t stolen since then or simply hasn’t gotten caught is anyone’s guess. All I know is that 79 years old she’s not ready to stop and for that alone, I’m a little in love with Doris Payne.
