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San Diego– Doris Payne, an 80-year-old jewel thief was sentenced Wednesday to serve 5 years in prison. Payne admits that she is a career thief and traveled the world plying her craft. She has never used a gun or lifted a finger in violence, but still slips out of jewelry stores with her loot, according to her lawyer Gretchen von Helms.

In court, Payne told the judge she didn’t think he should “be harsh with [her]” after she was convicted of swiping a nearly $9,000 diamond ring from Macy’s in San Diego on Jan. 1, 2010.

“I am truly sorry that this went on as long as it did,” she said according to a report by ABC News’ San Diego affiliate KGTV.

But Judge Frank Brown gave her five years, the upper end of the possible sentence.

“You won’t stop,” Judge Frank Brown said. “That’s the problem here… She’s a thief. She’s charming. Santa Claus’ wife, that’s who she is.”

Read more at Abcnews.com

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