COALITION BEGINS ANTI-CRIME PROJECTS
An industrywide coalition led by the Jewelers’ Security Alliance has started several projects to combat crime.
It picked a Washington, D.C., law firm to lobby Congress for better protection for the industry and set up a fund-raising committee to cover the expense. (Lobbying in Washington costs $10,000 to $50,000 a month.) Several firms have already pledged $125,000. Rolex alone pledged $50,000.
It declared a “Jewelry Crime Awareness Week” for Nov. 1-7. During the week, members of JSA and other jewelry groups will contact Congress to urge stepped-up law enforcement for the industry. Special mail stickers will also be used.
It launched a vigorous public relations effort to raise awareness of the crime problem. It’s already paid off. The Sept. 6 issue of Newsweek ran a story that JSA president John