54-Year-Old Woman Robs South Coast Plaza Store of $2 Million Worth of Jewelry
Photo: Karen Yvonne Floyd
A 54-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing $2 million worth of jewelry from a Costa Mesa shopping center.
Suspect Karen Yvonne Floyd from Newport Beach entered a jewelry store located in the South Coast Plaza mall around noon on Saturday, January 11, 2020.
After store employees granted her request to look at and try on several costly pieces, she asked if she could view them in the sunlight. When employees told her no, Floyd advanced toward the store entrance with the jewelry, where store security attempted to stop her.
“The suspect then brandished a large knife and threatened the security officers,” according to Costa Mesa police. “She fled the store and was followed to the parking lot, where store security was able to obtain the license plate of the vehicle as she drove away.”
Costa Mesa police detectives were able to positively identify Floyd from the license plate information and witness identifications. They served a search warrant at her home on January 13th and arrested her without incident in the lobby of her apartment building. A search of Floyd’s residence yielded the stolen jewelry as well as the knife she used in the incident.
Floyd is currently in custody and being held without bail.
“The jewelry, valued at over 2 million dollars, was subsequently returned to the store,” according to police.
