The industry’s leading security advisors address the burglary crime crisis and help jewelers take action
NEENAH, Wis. (September 17, 2024) – Jewelers Mutual® Group, the insurance and business solutions provider dedicated to the jewelry industry since 1913, announced today that the jewelry industry is facing an unprecedented burglary crime crisis. Sophisticated, organized traveling groups, believed to be linked to South America, are executing burglaries with historic frequency and severity and remain at large, targeting jewelers nationwide. The danger is real, and the threat is growing.
In response, leading security experts at Jewelers Mutual and the Jewelers Security Alliance are uniting to warn jewelers and equip them with the knowledge and tools needed to protect themselves, their employees and their valuable inventory. These recent incidents underscore a trend of carefully orchestrated burglaries aimed at both mall-based and standalone jewelry stores.
"The crime landscape is evolving quickly and criminals are becoming more sophisticated than ever. No business is exempt," said Howard Stone, Vice President of Global Risk Services and Analytics at Jewelers Mutual. "It's critical that every jewelry business owner takes proactive measures to safeguard themselves and their stores."
Where & How It’s Happening: A National Crisis
Criminals are gaining access through rooftops and shared walls of neighboring stores, using torches, angle grinders, pry bars and other tools to break into safes and vaults, resulting in millions of dollars in stolen merchandise and financial devastation for business owners. They case locations, particularly those adjacent to construction sites and vacant buildings, during business hours and gain entry overnight, often disguised in construction attire, high visibility vests and surgical masks. In some cases, cell phone or WiFi disrupters/jammers are being used, affecting cell phone communication up to 120 feet.
JSA warns that high priority alarm response is critical, especially on weekends and holidays.
Protect Your Business NOW: 4 Immediate Actions Jewelers Must Take
- Test & Validate Alarm & Camera Systems: Ensure that all security alarms and cameras are functional and correctly installed. Conduct regular tests to verify that alarms are properly communicating with your monitoring services and cameras are recording properly.
- Update Call Lists & Define Roles: Review and update your emergency contact lists. Every person on this list should clearly understand their role during a crisis. Immediate response times are critical to minimizing damage.
- Answer Calls From Your Alarm Company: Contact local authorities immediately to respond to all alarm signals, including communication failures. Do not enter the property until accompanied by law enforcement to complete a full walkthrough of the premises and adjacent areas.
- Engage with Law Enforcement & Mall Security: Proactively connect with your local law enforcement and mall security teams. Inform them that the jewelry industry is a primary target and request their assistance in increasing surveillance and patrolling your business. Inviting them to tour your store helps them understand the layout and identify potential vulnerabilities.
"I haven’t seen this level of severity and frequency in these types of attacks in all of my 30 years involved with jewelry crimes. This is a critical moment for jewelers everywhere," said Scott Guginsky, Vice President of the Jewelers Security Alliance. "By taking immediate action and following security best practices, you can significantly reduce your store’s exposure to this growing threat."
Call to Action: Report Any Suspicious Activity
If you witness any suspicious incidents or are aware of potential threats, report them immediately to local law enforcement, contact JSA at [email protected]. JSA tracks crime trends and patterns and works closely with federal, state and local law enforcement, aiding in identifying and apprehending criminals.
For more information on how to protect your business and access security resources, visit JewelersMutual.com/crime-awareness or contact Jewelers Mutual’s Asset Protection team at [email protected].
Jewelers Mutual covers the cost of JSA membership for its policyholders. Membership is also free to law enforcement officers. If interested in becoming a member, visit JewelersSecurity.org/join for details.
ABOUT JEWELERS SECURITY ALLIANCE
Jewelers Security Alliance (JSA) is a non-profit trade association with over 19,000 members that has been providing crime information and assistance to the jewelry industry and law enforcement since 1883. JSA fulfills its mission of informing and alerting jewelers about crime through weekly email crime alerts and research reports, a website, seminars and consulting activities. JSA also works closely with the FBI and local law enforcement agencies, sharing its data and analysis in order to further the war on jewelry crime. To learn more, visit JewelersSecurity.org.