A risky business: Protecting you and your family from home invasions
by charlene_voisin | August 1, 2013 9:00 am
By David J. Sexton
[1] As a jeweller, you’re aware of the risks you face when working and travelling with jewellery. However, if you’re not also following sound security procedures at your home, you may be exposing yourself and your family to potential danger.
Home invasions can turn violent and even deadly, so understanding how to keep your family and home safe and secure is critical. Several years ago in Ontario, a jeweller found his own family under attack by someone who carefully targeted him and planned the robbery in advance. The police reported an armed man forced his way into the home of a jewellery store manager, struck the manager’s wife in the jaw, and tied her up. The couple’s seven-month-old baby was also home.
When the store manager arrived home later that evening, the suspect overtook him, leaving him bound and gagged. The thief then left with the manager’s car, keys to the store, security codes, and the combination to the store safe. The couple was able to free themselves an hour later, but the police did not apprehend the suspect.
In March 2013, Toronto police arrested five men who are suspected of committing numerous robberies. Ten of these robberies were home invasions of victims connected to jewellery businesses. According to John Lamont, director of loss prevention with Jewellers Vigilance Canada (JVC), this type of crime appears to be on the rise.
Keep one step ahead
[2]Never take for granted a service representative is who he or she says they are. Always ask for proper identification and contact the company to verify the service call.
To avoid a scary situation happening at your home, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co., recommends the following:
When choosing your home, evaluate the context of the location, including the street (dead-end versus heavily travelled street), closeness of neighbours, and parking arrangements.
ҬPick a reliable burglar alarm system for your home and instruct family members on how to effectively use it.
“¨Install proper lighting around your home’s entire perimeter with motion-sensing floodlights mounted high enough to prevent tampering, whenever possible.
“¨Lock your doors and windows and set your perimeter alarm when you’re at home.
Never unlock or open the door unless you know who it is.
Look through the door’s peephole to identify the visitor. If the individual is making a service call, ask them to provide appropriate identification and contact the service company to confirm/verify that they did, indeed, dispatch a representative. Also, confirm his or her name and identification before allowing them to enter your home. Do not open your door if you feel uncomfortable.
Do not keep jewellery merchandise at your home.
Keep your personal valuables in an appropriate burglary-resistant-rated safe that is well hidden.
Have an unlisted and unpublished telephone number. Carry a charged cell phone with you at all times, keeping it next to you when you sleep.
When using valet parking or having your car serviced, provide only the necessary car keys, not your entire key chain with the house key on it.
Most home invasions are preceded by some form of casing, during which criminals study family patterns, as well as store procedures. These aren’t random events—criminals do their homework before attacking. When criminals observe a store’s opening and closing procedures, they are able to identify their targets based on who has keys to the business, who can operate the alarm, and who can access the contents of the jewellery safe(s).
As with most theft, you can try to prevent an incident before it happens by being alert for suspicious activity or people. Here are a few recommendations to protect yourself and your family:
[3]Ensure your family knows how to properly arm and operate your home burglary system.ҬIf you see any suspicious persons, activities, or vehicles in your home or work area, do not hesitate to contact local law enforcement. If something or someone looks suspicious, trust your instincts and act on them by calling the police.
Be alert when travelling to and from work to ensure no one is following or watching you.
Look around before opening your garage or house door for anything that appears suspicious. If you’re not comfortable, leave the area and call the police.
You may want to keep a log book at your business that employees can use to write down all suspicious activity. Have them record details such as licence plate numbers, physical descriptions of suspect vehicles and individuals, dates, times, and other information regarding suspicious incidents that may later be helpful to police.
ҬJoin your Neighbourhood Watch Program or start one in your community. Trusted neighbours can also help identify suspicious people in your area.
ҬEducate family members and temporary house guests about what to look for and what to do when they encounter a suspicious situation. Make sure they also observe the same sound security precautions you follow, such as keeping the doors locked and not opening them to unknown visitors.
For more information about securing your home, visit JewelersMutual.ca[4] or contact Jewelers Mutual at communications@jminsure.com[5] for a free security brochure. For an updated crime prevention manual or for the most updated crime data, contact Jewellers Vigilance Canada (JVC) at (800) 636-9536 or info@jewellersvigilance.ca[6].
David J. Sexton, CPCU, is vice-president of loss prevention at Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co., in the United States. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Sexton serves on the Underwriters’ Laboratories’ (UL) Security Systems Council, where he is a corporate member of the insurance category. He also sits on the board of directors for Jewellers Vigilance Canada (JVC), and worked on the Central Station Alarm Association’s (CSAA’s) Insurance Liaison Committee that assisted in the development of the UL burglar alarm modular certificate program and revised UL standard. Comments and questions can be sent to lossprevention@jminsure.com[7].
For training resources regarding safety and security when carrying or working with jewellery, visit JM University at JewelersMutual.com[8]. Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company is the only company specializing exclusively in jewellery insurance in the United States and Canada. It is licensed in all 50 U.S. states and Canada.
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