Jewelry Crime Blotter: Week of Nov. 18



A weekly roundup of jewelry store crimes with related tips from JCK:

Armed Suspect Dressed as FedEx Worker Pistol-Whips California Jeweler

An armed robber in Glendale, Calif., posed as a FedEx worker and pistol-whipped the owner of a local jewelry store.

After entering Honolulu Jewelry with a package under his arm, the suspect pulled out a gun, pistol-whipped the owner, grabbed an undisclosed amount of jewelry, and fled.

The owner sustained minor injuries. No customers were in the store at the time of the robbery. The suspect fled in light colored sedan, possible a Volkwagon Jetta, with paper plates. Police think two other suspects could be involved.

Anyone with information should call Glendale Police at 818-548-4911 or 818-548-3987.

Jewelers Security Alliance’s Manual of Jewelry Security suggests jewelers be suspicious of anyone showing interest in anything related to their security, whether in person or over the phone. Jewelers should also keep a suspicious incident log in a special notebook in which they can record casing and suspicious incidents, license plate numbers, and descriptions of all suspicious vehicles and the occupants. JSA also suggests that jewelers establish a good relationship with their local police, and make certain they are aware of any security concerns.

Smash-and-Grab Victimizes Los Angeles Jewelry Store

A group of robbers victimized a local Los Angeles jewelry store with a smash-and-grab crime on Nov. 14.

One of the three suspects held down an employee of Salar Jewelry, while the two others smashed into display cases with sledgehammers. The thieves made off with $13,000 in gold in a white SUV driven by a female driver.

According to police, the owner said he recognized the suspects as having come to the store the Saturday before. Police also said it was the latest in a series of smash-and-grab robberies that began in the summer.

Anyone with information should contact Los Angeles Police at 877-LAPD-24-7.

The Manual suggests jewelers can reduce their losses from smash-and-grabs by using burglary-resistant glazing material for showcases, which will greatly slow down a smash-and-grab thief. Slowing thieves down puts time on the side of the jeweler because robbers want to flee quickly. In an armed robbery like the one described above, jewelers should cooperate fully with the robbers, and try not to panic.

$30,000 Diamond Ring Returned to Atlanta Jeweler After Heist

The sheriff’s department in Forsyth County, N.C., returned nearly $300,000 to an Atlanta jewelry store following a $2.5 million heist earlier this fall.

One of the items that found its way back to Milano Fine Jewelry was a 4 ct. diamond ring worth nearly $30,000 that is a family heirloom belonging to one of the store’s customers.

According to police, the jewelry returned to the store was recovered as a result of some 60 search warrants served at several locations throughout the metro Atlanta area. The items were found in suspects’ cars, storage units, and a safe deposit box.

The theft occurred on the weekend of Sept. 24–25. The suspects found a hole in the wall and made their way into the store. The security system was disabled, the store was ransacked, and the safe was breached.

Police believe that the theft involved more than the six suspects who currently face charges, and that the burglary is linked to others in the metro Atlanta area and neighboring states.

JSA suggests jewelers maintain a visible video camera and recording system in their stores. An obvious camera system acts as a deterrent to crime, and helps identify criminals who commit a crime in their store, or even those who case their store with the intention of committing a crime.

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