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Criminals Targeting Gold Jewelry More as Value Soars, JSA Says

by Media

By Rob Bates | December 13, 2024

As the price of gold has soared past $2,500 an ounce (and continues to hover around $2,700), criminals are increasingly targeting stores that sell gold jewelry, says Scott Guginsky, executive vice president of the Jewelers’ Security Alliance (JSA).

“Gold is the most desirable thing to steal right now,” Guginsky tells JCK. “It’s more desirable than engagement rings. Sometimes it’s even more desirable than watches. Criminals pay attention to the fact that it’s approaching $3,000 an ounce.”

Gold is also appealing to criminals because its origin can be difficult to determine, says Guginsky.

“It’s untraceable, even more than diamonds or watches,” he says. “You steal it, and within minutes you can melt it down in the Diamond District. When it’s fenced to the right people, it disappears, and they sometimes get 90%-95% of its value.”

Asian, Middle Eastern, and Indian retailers that specialize in gold are getting hit in particular, Guginsky says, pointing to two robberies in New York City last weekend.

Here are tips for jewelers from Guginsky and from Carrie Volp, vice president for commercial lines operations at industry insurer Jewelers Mutual, on protecting stores and inventory:

Control your environment.

“Put buzzers on your doors,” he says. “Put laminated glass out on your front windows. You want to make it harder for the crooks to get in.”

Don’t display too much merchandise.

While all inventory should be put away every night, Guginsky says to be careful during the day, too.

“Try to limit the amount of gold you have outside of your safe,” he says. “Jewelers get a lot of extra inventory for the holidays—you don’t have to show it all.”

Maintain good relations with local police.

“It’s better to be proactive than reactive,” says Guginsky. “Educate law enforcement about what’s going on. A lot of times these local police departments have no idea about what’s happening nationwide.”

Train employees on what to watch for and do.

“Make sure that your staff is trained on casing behaviors, store security protocols, and that they have a code word in the event of an incident at the store,” says Volp. “The rush of the holidays can cause security to take a backseat. Now more than ever is when it is needed.”

Hire security guards.

“Security is a deterrent,” he says. “Retired police or off-duty police are the best for security.”

Never resist during a robbery.

“Gold can be replaced, but your well-being and your store’s well-being can’t,” Guginsky says.

Consult your insurance provider.

Volp recommends: “Consider a conversation with your insurance representative regarding the valuation provisions in your policy. Your insurance representative can also provide advice about required inventory records should a claim arise.”

For additional tips as well as crime bulletins, see the JSA website.

Click here to read the source for this article.

ocean11

Jewelers Warned of Wave of “Ocean’s Eleven” Burglaries

by AdviceCrime NewsMedia

September 18, 2024 – New York, NY

Howard Stone, vice president of global risk services and analytics for Jewelers Mutual, says the insurer started noticing an uptick in burglaries in June. “It doesn’t appear like they’re stopping,” he says.

Most of the thefts follow similar patterns. They generally occur on weekends. The gang members sometimes dress up as construction workers to avoid suspicion. They often come equipped with cellphone and Wi-Fi blockers. They usually cut the store’s power cables, and will sometimes wait for hours until the alarm’s backup battery runs out. On occasion, they’ll mount hunting cameras on the store, which act as motion sensors, to see if anyone’s coming.

The gangs are generally well prepared before they strike, gathering extensive intelligence about their targets.

“They usually roll into town for a week and do surveillance,” Guginsky says. “They scout out the store, follow the jeweler home. They often send someone in the store during business hours, with a camera on their hat and their shirt, so they have a sense of the layout.”

Even though they have similar M.O.’s, multiple crews are committing these thefts, Guginsky says.

“They’re all from South America and they are somewhat in communication,” he says. “But it’s a loose-knit group. It’s not like there’s a [mob boss] John Gotti coordinating everything.”

Guginsky notes that these gangs can function only when “jewelers are buying this stolen property.” (Fencing is, of course, a crime.)

To prevent burglaries, the JSA and Jewelers Mutual recommend jewelers take the following steps:

  • Be aware of any suspicious customers or people who could be casing the store or following you. If you suspect someone is targeting your store, report it to both the JSA and local law enforcement. Keep a logbook that notes the time and date of suspicious activities.
  • Regularly test security alarms and cameras.
  • Review and update your emergency contact list, and ensure every person on this list clearly understands their role. Emergency contacts should be available even on weekends and holidays.
  • Jewelers should notify the authorities about all alarm signals, including notices of communication errors or power interruptions. (Unexplained power cuts or cellphone outages are considered red flags.) Following an alarm, retailers shouldn’t enter the store alone but should wait for a police escort.
  • TL 15×6– and TL 30×6-rated safes are no longer considered adequate protection from burglars. The JSA recommends TRTL 30×6–rated safes.
  • Don’t position a safe on an outside wall or the wall of a neighboring office or store. That could enable burglars to penetrate the safe without entering the store.
  • Don’t leave merchandise—even inexpensive merchandise—in showcases at night. Either lock it in the safe or find another way to keep it out of sight.
  • Forge relationships with local law enforcement and mall security. Have them tour your store and identify potential vulnerabilities.

Article provided by Rob Bates, JCK Magazine. Click here to view the source of the article.

2023 Annual Crime Report

The Jewelers Security Alliance Publishes Its 2023 Annual Crime Report

by MediaUncategorized

New York, NY – On April 23, 2024, the Jewelers Security Alliance (JSA) published its annual crime report. The executive summary is listed below. Click the bottom link to read the full report.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. In 2023 the total dollar losses from crimes against U.S. jewelry firms reported to JSA was $133.2
million, a 2.9% increase from $129.4 million in 2022. 

2. In 2023 the total number of crimes committed against U.S. jewelry firms was 1,621, a decrease
from 2,211 in 2022, which was the highest number of crimes JSA has ever recorded. The number of
crimes in 2023 represented a 26.7% decrease from crimes reported to JSA in 2022. 

3. The crime category that experienced the greatest reduction in 2023 was Grab and Run thefts. The
number of Grab and Run thefts declined from 984 in 2022 to 663 in 2023. The reduction in the use
of face masks, which had become more prevalent as a result of Covid, has made it more difficult for
criminals to disguise themselves with masks. 

4. While the number of crimes requiring minimal skills by criminals and resulting in relatively small
losses declined in 2023, the increase in dollar losses can be attributed to highly professional
criminals and organized gangs carrying out high-dollar crimes resulting in large losses.

5. The number of off-premises crimes reported to JSA increased from 65 in 2022 to 100 in 2023.
Dollar losses from off-premises crimes reported to JSA in 2023 was $40.4 million, which
represented an increase of 112.6% from $19.0 million in losses reported in 2022.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE LATEST ANNUAL CRIME STATISTICS REPORT AND READ MORE

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Watch: How to Protect Your Store This Holiday Season

by Media

November 17, 2023 – Jewelry crime soared to record levels in 2022, with the number of crimes up 31 percent year-over-year and dollar losses hitting a 13-year high.

Has that trend continued into 2023? What types of crimes are most prevalent and what do jewelers need to be mindful of heading into the holiday season?

On November 14 2023, Jewelers’ Security Alliance President John Kennedy and Andrew Chipman, Vice President of Jewelers Block at Berkley Asset Protection, joined National Jeweler’s Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff and Jewelers of America’s Regina Ciarleglio to discuss these questions and more in the latest episode of My Next Question.

Watch the webinar below:

https://nationaljeweler.com/articles/12457-watch-how-to-protect-your-store-this-holiday-season

Vehicle used in crime

Subjects ram SUV into jewelry store during heist, video shows

by Crime VideosCrimesMediaUncategorized

LOS ANGELES, CA – On November 18, 2023, a jewelry store was left picking up the pieces after a brazen vehicle smash burglary impacted their store. The incident was caught on video.

Los Angeles police say officers responded to the jewelry store after a report came in around 1:48 a.m. Saturday.

Multiple security cameras at the jewelry store show an SUV ram into the storefront. The burglars are then seen running in and ransacking the location.

The owner, who didn’t want be identified, says the thieves didn’t take much but they caused significant damage. “We have to redo the floors, redo the cabinets because they were smashed for no reason. There was nothing in them,” the owner said. “They just don’t care, so it impacts us both financially and mentally.”

The owner says the jewelry store has been in the community for more than three decades.

Police had no leads on the case, but the owner said the SUV involved in the crash was stolen and was found abandoned nearby.

Click here to view footage of the crime and read the source of this posting. If you have any information regarding the subjects from this crime, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

diamonds

Burglars target Forsyth County jewelry store in large heist

by Crime VideosCrimesMediaUncategorized

FORSYTH COUNTY, GA. – A significant amount of jewelry was stolen in a burglary at a jewelry store in Forsyth County.

Early Friday morning, subjects broke into the store. One individual smashed display cases, while the others grabbed high-end watches, engagement rings, and necklaces.

They ran out the backdoor, loaded up the stolen items, and fled the scene, even while one of the burglars was still trying to get in the car. The owners have had other problems in the past.

In January 2020, a thief used a large rock to break into the jewelry store’s old location. The subject used the same rock to smash the glass on the showcases and grab jewelry.

Last year, on New Year’s Eve, burglars tried to break in through the roof. A few months later, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office arrested three men for the daring break-in. Sheriff’s officials say the three men are believed to be part of an international theft ring. They believe the same men hit stores across north Georgia and Tennessee.

Now, the owners of the jewelry store, are hoping that the thieves who broke in on Friday morning will also be captured.

The owners say it’s going to take time to replace the glass on the custom-made display cases, and even more time to get more inventory to replace the jewelry that was stolen. The heist came at a tough time when the holiday shopping season is just around the corner.

Click here to view footage of the crime and read the source of this posting. If you have any information regarding the subjects from this crime, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

Handcuffs

Brooklyn, NY resident arrested after stealing from a jewelry trade show in New York City

by ArrestsCrimesMedia

New York, New York � On Tuesday, October 31, 2023, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) at New York State Police Manhattan, arrested Bruce Lopez, age 60, of Brooklyn, New York, for Grand Larceny in the 3rd Degree � a class D felony and Criminal Trespass in the 3rd Degree � a class B misdemeanor.

State Police Investigators were assigned to a jewelry show in Manhattan, NY when they were advised by a participating vendor that on Sunday, October 29, 2023, they were the victim of a larceny. The vendor provided the State Police Investigators with video footage showing the suspect taking a box of jewelry, valued at approximately $5,000 to $7,000, from the counter and placing it into a bag. With the assistance of the venue and show staff, the suspect was identified as Bruce Lopez and arrested by State Police Investigators after he returned to convention center two days after the initial larceny.

Lopez was charged with Grand Larceny in the 3rd Degree and Criminal Trespass in the 3rd Degree. Lopez was remanded to Manhattan Central Booking pending arraignment.