Keeping safe: What you need to know about jewellery store thefts and holiday shopping

by Tamanna Bhasin | January 10, 2024 1:45 pm

With the holiday shopping season upon us, it’s crucial that your staff be prepared to prevent crimes that can easily go unnoticed. As you prepare for the busy season, don’t forget to stay vigilant with your security measures. Keep these three things in mind as you prepare your jewellery store for the rush of customers and heightened risk of holiday thefts.

1) Common types of jewellery store thefts

When the term “theft” is used, most people envision grab-and-run or sneak thefts. Although those are two of the most common types of thefts that jewellers encounter, criminals don’t stop there.¹

Some thefts are accompanied by an element of distraction—where a coordinated group works together to draw attention away from the merchandise being stolen. While less common, these other types of jewellery store thefts still need to be taken seriously:

• Internal theft
• Switch theft
• Credit card fraud
• Cyber theft

You can add an extra layer of defense against thefts by placing store security materials around your showcases.² These materials will let potential thieves know you will only show one item at a time and that your store requires proof of identification.

2) Regularly take physical inventory

Doing a complete reconciliation of your inventory is not feasible during such a busy time. This likely only needs to be done annually if you have perpetual jewellery inventory software.³ However, keeping detailed records year-round will prove to be helpful.

Daily case counts are essential to controlling loss during the holiday season. The quicker you notice merchandise has gone missing, the more likely an investigation into the loss will be successful. If you need to submit a claim, daily case counts will also allow that process to begin earlier.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when conducting case counts:

• Vary the times of day when the count is done.
• To avoid internal theft, have more than one person responsible for conducting counts.⁵
• If it is not possible to monitor all displays daily, rotate which ones are observed.
• Review your surveillance footage on a regular basis to make sure the counts are completed and nothing is missed.

3) The likelihood of grab-and-run thefts increases as the day goes on

Criminals committing this type of crime will typically walk into a store, appearing to browse the merchandise. Usually, they move toward the most valuable item on the showroom floor and ask to see it. They then run off once the item is handed to them for viewing.

So, how do you prevent grab-and-run theft?

• Ask to see a customer’s ID before allowing the individual to try on merchandise, no matter what its value is.
• Once you have verified that the ID is legitimate, retain it until the customer has returned the piece.
• Remember to show an item only after you have examined the ID. Multi-tasking can be risky, some grab-and-run attempts feature suspects taking merchandise directly from the hands of sales associates before an ID can be deemed legitimate.
• Never have more than two pieces out of your showcases at once. Some criminals are bold enough to attempt grab-and-run thefts with entire trays of rings.
• Never show more than one piece at a time. If a customer is adamant about comparing pieces side by side, put one on yourself to let the customer compare.
• Many criminals will appear nervous or fidgety before attempting a grab-and-run. Document suspicious incidents like this so, if the suspect returns, the rest of your staff will know how to react.⁷
• If your associates have a strange feeling about a situation, urge them to document it in a suspicious incident log and inform others at your business.
• Keep in mind that last year’s Jewelers’ Security Alliance (JSA) Annual Crime Report⁶ indicated jewellers need to be more observant during the evening hours.

Whether a criminal plans on attempting a theft, robbery, or burglary, they are likely to case a jewellery business first. Practicing secure selling procedures is crucial to staying safe during the busy holiday season. 

For resources regarding safety and security when carrying or working with jewellery, visit JewelersMutual.com.[1] For more information on reliable burglar alarm systems, subscribe to the Jewelers Mutual Clarity blog at jewelersmutual.com/clarity-blog[2]. To access a free comprehensive set of security training courses, enroll to Jewelers Mutual’s Jeweller Safety and Security Academy.

Resources

¹ See “5 Types of Jewelry Store Thefts and How to Prevent Them,” published on the Jewelers Mutual blog: https://www.jewelersmutual.com/clarity-blog/5-types-jewelry-store-thefts-and-how-to-prevent-them [3]

² For more, see: https://www.jewelersmutual.com/order-security-materials?_ics=1697048370195&[4]
irclickid=%7Ec681RNV1VOJEFMHyxyEKBrswDGyzvmcjnrqsujkfe7XUMKEuqplc

³ See “Features to Consider For Your Jewelry Inventory Software,” published on the Jewelers Mutual blog: https://www.jewelersmutual.com/clarity-blog/features-to-consider-your-jewelry-inventory-software[5] (jewelersmutual.com)

⁴ For more, see: https://info.jewelersmutual.com/hubfs/elevate/[6]
downloads/inventory_record_keeping_guide.pdf?_ics=
1697048370195&irclickid=%7Ec681RNV1VOJEFMHyxyE
KBrswDGyzvmcjnrqsujkfe7XUMKEuqplc

⁵ See “5 Ways for Jewelers to Reduce the Risk of Internal Theft,” published on the Jewelers Mutual blog: https://www.jewelersmutual.com/clarity-blog/5-ways-jewelers-to-reduce-the-risk-internal-theft[7]

⁶ https://jewelerssecurity.org/crime-statistics/[8]

⁷ For more, see: https://www.jewelersmutual.com/sites/default/files/2021-06/Jewelers-Suspicious-Incident-Logbook.pdf[9]

⁸ See, “A Jeweler’s Guide to 24/7 Security,” published on the Jewelers Mutual blog: https://www.jewelersmutual.com/jeweler-security-guide[10]

⁹ See, “How to Sell Jewelry with Security,” published on the Jewelers Mutual blog: https://www.jewelersmutual.com/clarity-blog/how-to-sell-jewelry-security[11]

¹⁰ For more, see: https://www.jewelersmutual.com/jeweler-safety-security-academy[12]

Source URL: https://www.jewellerybusiness.com/features/keeping-safe-what-you-need-to-know-about-jewellery-store-thefts-and-holiday-shopping/

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