The total number of crimes against the
jewelry industry decreased 4.5 percent in 2010 from the year before, the Jewelers
Security Alliance announced March 31.

Total losses declined 17.3 percent to $80.8
million, the JSA added.

“Increased efforts by the FBI and local
law enforcement agencies resulted in the arrests of 538 criminals who attacked
the industry in 2010,” John Kennedy, president of JSA, said in a statement.
“The cumulative effect of taking hundreds of jewelry criminals off the streets
year after year has had a strong impact on reducing crime.”

Kennedy pointed to several factors that
helped lead to decreased crime: fewer retail stores as targets; fewer traveling
jewelry salespersons on the road; and lower inventories in retail stores.

California was the most dangerous state
for jewelry crime, the JSA reported, accounting for 214 of the 1,487 incidents
reported to the group. That was followed by Illinois, with 144 incidents,
Florida (122), Texas (119), and New York (90).

“Grab and runs” continue to be one of the
most frequent crimes against the industry, with 359 crimes reported to the JSA.
Burglaries came in second.

“The fight against jewelry crime is
never-ending,” Kennedy said. “While much progress has been made in the last decade
in reducing crime by getting law enforcement more involved and better educating
and informing jewelers on security, the risk of crime and violence is something
that jewelers still face every day. Even a momentary lapse of careful security
procedures can result in tragedy.”

However, Kennedy added that “increased
information sharing by jewelers and the police regarding suspects, crimes and
scams had prevented many crimes and led to many arrests. JSA is seeing powerful
results from its Local Jewelers Crime Prevention Networks Project.”

Don’t miss a story! Subscribe to JCK’s e-newsletter here.

JCK