Cruise Selfies Reveal $20,463 Jewelry Theft

A British woman has been sentenced to prison after flaunting $20,463 worth of stolen jewelry in photos sent from a luxury cruise.

Lucy Roberts, a former manager at the Daniella Draper Beverly jewelry store, found herself in trouble after taking thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from her employer.

For about a year, Roberts allegedly developed a habit of taking jewelry from the store, claiming that she was merely sorting stock at home. It wasn’t until she resigned from her position that the full scale of her theft was revealed.

While on her cruise, Roberts made a critical mistake: she sent photos to her former colleagues showing herself wearing the stolen jewelry. She likely thought they wouldn’t recognize the items, but she was wrong. Her ex-colleagues grew suspicious and reported the photos to management, prompting a police investigation.

A warrant for her arrest was quickly issued. When Roberts was detained at London’s Heathrow Airport following her trip, authorities found the stolen jewelry in her possession.

Further investigation uncovered an even larger stash of stolen goods from her home—269 additional pieces worth over $148,000.

In total, Roberts had stolen jewelry and cash valued at around $171,000. In court, she pled guilty to theft by an employee. In addition to stealing the jewelry, Roberts had been involved in fraudulent return transactions and altered stock counts to cover up her actions.

Judge’s verdict? Roberts was sentenced to 28 months in prison for her crimes. “Her actions have betrayed not only the company but also colleagues who trusted her in a role of responsibility,” said Sgt. Krista Wilkinson of the Humberside Police Force. “Now she has time to reflect on the serious consequences of her theft.”

The case has sparked concerns over the ease with which luxury items can be stolen by employees with access to high-value merchandise.

It also highlights the growing issue of social media playing a role in criminals’ exposure, with Roberts’ photos directly leading to her arrest.

Interestingly, Roberts is not the only one to have stolen jewelry during a cruise this year. Earlier in May, an elderly couple was accused of swiping a ring valued at $1,100 while onboard Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Constellation.

Authorities discovered the ring was in their possession once the ship docked in Naples, Italy. However, the couple has not yet been tried, and they maintain their innocence.

In Roberts’ case, the lesson is clear: even on vacation, criminals can be caught—especially if they share too much on social media.