A notorious jewelry thief, Yaorong Wan, was apprehended in Queens after executing a sophisticated diamond ring heist reminiscent of scenes from the movie “Ocean’s Eleven” in New York City.

Wan, 49, stands accused of stealing rings valued at $300,000 from Cartier and Tiffany stores in Manhattan, marking the end of his extensive criminal endeavors that spanned across continents.

Wan’s criminal journey began in South Korea in September 2018, where he allegedly pilfered a $330,000 diamond ring from a Tiffany’s store in Seoul.

He continued his spree with thefts in Beverly Hills, New York City, and other locations, including a $48,000 ring and a $10,000 watch from a Cartier store in Beverly Hills.

In New York City, Wan’s modus operandi involved skillful sleight-of-hand maneuvers. In one instance, he purportedly swapped a $255,000 diamond ring with a counterfeit cubic zirconia stone mounted on 18-carat white gold, escaping undetected from Tiffany’s.

Surveillance footage revealed his adeptness at swapping the genuine article with the fake, leaving store employees none the wiser until later inspection, the Independent has reported.

Wan repeated this tactic at a Cartier store in New York City and other locations, pocketing valuable items while distracting store staff.

His spree extended to Miami and East Rutherford, New Jersey, where he allegedly stole watches worth thousands of dollars.

Upon his arrest, Wan was found in possession of stolen watches and counterfeit stones used in his schemes. He pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court.

Written by B.C. Begley