News Updates

Consumer Alert

IMPORTANT MEETING NOTICE!

            On Sunday, June 1, 2008 JSA will be conducting a meeting in Las Vegas, NV at the JCK Show concerning Local Crime Prevention Networks for Jewelers and Police. The meeting will be from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Venetian, in Delfino 4101. JSA, working in partnership with Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company and Jewelers of America, is organizing local networks of jewelers throughout the U.S. who will share information on crime and work closely with their local police. Several leaders of successful local networks will be at this meeting to share their experiences in developing their networks. Each attendee will receive an advance copy of a 25-page Guide to Developing Local Crime Prevention Networks, and a 24-minute DVD entitled “Jewelry Crime for Law Enforcement,” that they can share with the local police department where their business is located. All those who are interested in organizing or joining a local crime prevention network are urged to attend. If you cannot attend the meeting but want more information, see JSA personnel in Booth L-14 at anytime during the Show.

UPSURGE IN HITS ON TRAVELING SALESPERSONS IN TEXAS

North Dallas, TX - May 7, 2008

At 3:00 p.m. three suspects wearing ski masks and armed with knives blocked in a salesperson’s car near a building on LBJ Freeway. The salesperson ran and the suspects chased him and took his diamond merchandise. The suspects slashed the tires of his car before fleeing. There have also been at least three recent hits on salespersons in Houston. On 05/01/08 a salesperson was attacked outside a Houston retail store by three or four Hispanic suspects who pulled up in a white SUV. On 04/29/08 a salesperson was pepper-sprayed as he entered his car after leaving a restaurant in Houston, and on April 28, 2008 three suspects robbed a salesperson in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Express in south Montgomery County, TX. The suspects were reported to be wearing black clothing, had their faces covered, and fled in a late model black Honda Accord.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Salespersons must use evasive driving techniques before and after every sales call and before returning to their hotel. Salespersons should also be frequently looking in their rear view mirror and driving around and surveying the nearby area before exiting their vehicle. Evasive driving techniques including driving very slowly, for example, at 10 miles per hour in the right lane, to see if anyone is following. Evasive driving also includes driving around the block in a residential, low-traffic area to see if anyone is following; making abrupt u-turns and left turns; and pulling into and out of shopping centers, banks or convenience stores to see if other cars follow.

2. Be advised that the South American gangs will use multiple cars to follow a salesperson, and those cars will sometimes have the license plate removed or covered over.

3. When a salesperson calls on a retail jewelry store, he should try to have his car parked as closely as possible to the store, facing out for fast exit, and he should not sit in a parked car for any period of time before or after the call.

4. If possible, salespersons should try to have the retailer keep an eye on them as they leave the store and drive away, watching to see if they are being followed.

TWO ROBBERIES IN PA – SEVERAL ARRESTS

Kingston, PA – May 5, 2008

Two armed black males entered a retail jewelry store in the morning and put a gun to the heads of the owner and his spouse. As the robbery unfolded, the spouse was able to press an alarm and the suspects fled without merchandise before the police arrived. One 38-year-old suspect was arrested and one escaped. The suspect who escaped was described as a 6’1” black male. Three loaded handguns were found near where the suspect was arrested.

Wilkes-Barre, PA – May 15, 2008 – Three armed black male suspects entered a retail jewelry store at 11:00 a.m., tied up employees, and took cash and jewelry. Outside the store two other suspects were in a vehicle. The two suspects fled in the vehicle and three suspects fled on foot. Police apprehended two of the suspects on foot nearby. The other three suspects are still at large.

John J. Kennedy, President, Jewelers' Security Alliance

Our records indicate this e-mail is transmitted with the express permission of the recipient as a member of the Jewelers' Security Alliance Crime Alert Network. If you wish to unsubscribe, reply to jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org, and in the Subject line please type REMOVE. Your e-mail address will be removed within 48 hours of receipt of your request and a final confirming message will be sent to you that this has been accomplished. Jewelers Security Alliance is headquartered at 6 East 45th Street, New York, NY 10017.