AuctionsFeb 26, 2026
Noonans to Auction Lady Wardington’s JewelryThe jewelry collection belonged to “one of society's most glamorous and beautiful women of the mid-20th century,” said the auction house.
CrimeAug 02, 2017
5 Things to Know about Jewelry Crime So Far This Year
National Jeweler shares five key points from the Jewelers Security Alliance’s mid-year report on crime.
New York--The number of crimes perpetrated against the jewelry industry are up slightly in the first six months of the year while dollar losses are down 12 percent, statistics from the Jewelers Security Alliance show.
Between Jan. 1 and June 30, there were 551 crimes reported to the JSA, compared with 528 in the same period last year, a 4 percent increase.
Dollar losses have totaled $27 million, down from $30.8 million a year ago.
The JSA’s mid-year report breaks down jewelry industry crimes into four categories:
--Robbery, the taking of property from a person by use of force or fear;
--Burglary, entering or being on premises after closing with intent to commit a crime;
--Theft, crimes like grab-and-runs, distraction thefts, diamond switches and sneak thefts that don’t involve force or fear; and
--Off-Premises Crime, attacks on traveling salespeople and jewelers when they are away from their stores.
It also gives totals for arrests (126 in the first half of 2017 versus 132 last year) and homicides.
Below, National Jeweler shares five key points from the report, with commentary from JSA President John J. Kennedy.
1. There were five homicides, and all of them happened between Jan. 5 and Feb. 26.
This is up from one jeweler and three robbers killed in the same period last year.
Those five deaths include the murders of three jewelers, one customer and one good Samaritan.
A 65-year-old customer was shot to death inside a Miami jewelry store in January. That same month, a jewelry store employee and a man who tried to stop a jewelry store robber who was running through the mall were killed in separate weekend robberies.
In February, 42-year-old Noah Ashene was stabbed to death during a robbery at the Memphis, Tennessee jewelry store where he worked, and Omid Gholian, 43, was found dead inside his New York City shop.
2. The number of off-premises crimes is at a six-year low, at least.
There have been 15 off-premises crimes so far in 2017.
That is down from 18 in the same period last year, and less than half of what the industry saw even just five years ago; in the first six months of 2012, off-premises crimes numbered 37.
Dollars losses from off-premises crimes remained relatively unchanged at $5.8 million.
“For the industry as a whole, it is very telling that off-premises crimes were really at an all-time low,” Kennedy said. It speaks to how the industry distribution system has changed,
and there are far fewer salespeople out on the road today.
He said even if the number of off-premises crimes double in the last half of the year, reaching 30, that is still well below the totals seen 15 or 20 years ago, when off-premises crimes numbered about 350 per year.
“The off-premises losses, 15 and 20 years ago, dollar-wise, were more than all of the other crimes against the industry combined.”
3. Robberies also are at a six-year low.
A total of 77 robberies were reported to the JSA in the first six months of 2017, compared with 91 last year, 132 in 2015, 131 in 2014, 142 in 2013 and 159 in 2012.
Kennedy said the number of smash-and-grab robberies involving high-end watches is down drastically from previous years.
Losses from robberies have totaled $8.4 million so far in 2017, down from $16.3 million in the same period last year.
4. The number of burglaries were down too, but dollars losses were up 56 percent.
There were 103 burglaries totaling $8.9 million in losses reported to the JSA in the first half of the year, compared with 107 burglaries and losses of $5.7 million last year.
Kennedy said this is due to a small number of very high-dollar burglaries in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida.
5. Thefts are the highest they’ve been since 2014.
There were 356 cases of theft reported to the JSA in the first half of 2017, up from 310 in the same period last year and 294 in 2015.
Kennedy said part of it has to do with the bands of Roma, also known as gypsies, perpetrating distraction and sneak thefts at stores across the country, which the JSA has been issuing warnings about since last fall.
Also contributing to the increase in the number of thefts is more reporting of incidences of credit card fraud, which is classified as a theft.
He said even if the number of off-premises crimes double in the last half of the year, reaching 30, that is still well below the totals seen 15 or 20 years ago, when off-premises crimes numbered about 350 per year.
“The off-premises losses, 15 and 20 years ago, dollar-wise, were more than all of the other crimes against the industry combined.”
3. Robberies also are at a six-year low.
A total of 77 robberies were reported to the JSA in the first six months of 2017, compared with 91 last year, 132 in 2015, 131 in 2014, 142 in 2013 and 159 in 2012.
Kennedy said the number of smash-and-grab robberies involving high-end watches is down drastically from previous years.
Losses from robberies have totaled $8.4 million so far in 2017, down from $16.3 million in the same period last year.
4. The number of burglaries were down too, but dollars losses were up 56 percent.
There were 103 burglaries totaling $8.9 million in losses reported to the JSA in the first half of the year, compared with 107 burglaries and losses of $5.7 million last year.
Kennedy said this is due to a small number of very high-dollar burglaries in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida.
5. Thefts are the highest they’ve been since 2014.
There were 356 cases of theft reported to the JSA in the first half of 2017, up from 310 in the same period last year and 294 in 2015.
Kennedy said part of it has to do with the bands of Roma, also known as gypsies, perpetrating distraction and sneak thefts at stores across the country, which the JSA has been issuing warnings about since last fall.
Also contributing to the increase in the number of thefts is more reporting of incidences of credit card fraud, which is classified as a theft.
More on Crime
The Latest
SourcingFeb 26, 2026
Anglo American CEO Gives Insight Into De Beers SaleThe update came as Anglo took its third write-down on the diamond miner and marketer, which lost more than $500 million in 2025.
ColumnistsFeb 26, 2026
Practical Ways Jewelers Can Leverage AI in 2026Emmanuel Raheb discusses the rise of “GEO” and the importance of having well-written, quality content on your website.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
Events & AwardsFeb 26, 2026
GIA Names 2026 Jewelry Design Contest Winner, Retires Annual AwardCatherine Aulick, a GIA graduate, received the ninth and final Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design.
Weekly QuizFeb 26, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TrendsFeb 25, 2026
Engagement Ring Trends 2026: What’s In, and WhyWe asked a jewelry historian, designer, bridal director, and wedding expert what’s trending in engagement rings. Here’s what they said.
SourcingFeb 25, 2026
7 Trends That Could Define the Diamond Industry’s FutureExperts from India weigh in the politics, policies, and market dynamics for diamantaires to monitor in 2026 and beyond.
Brought to you by
DCA Enters a New Chapter in Jewelry EducationWith refreshed branding, a new website, updated courses, and a pathway for growth, DCA is dedicated to supporting retail staff development.
EditorsFeb 25, 2026
Q&A: Brilliant Earth’s CEO on the New Beverly Hills StoreBeth Gerstein discusses the vibe of the new store, what customers want when fine jewelry shopping today, and the details of “Date Night.”
PodcastsFeb 25, 2026
Episode 2: Jewelry Trends & Does the Red Carpet Matter?Are arm bands poised to make a comeback? Has red-carpet jewelry become boring? Find out on the second episode of the “My Next Question” podcast.
WatchesFeb 25, 2026
Private Equity Firms Write Down Value of Breitling, Report SaysThe Swiss watchmaker is battling declining sales amid a rapid retail expansion, according to a Financial Times report.
CollectionsFeb 25, 2026
Rahaminov Diamonds’ New Campaign Honors Its MatriarchThe campaign celebrates Giustina Pavanello Rahaminov, the co-founder’s wife and matriarch of the family-owned brand, for her 88th birthday.
IndependentsFeb 25, 2026
Borsheims Names 2025 ‘Ike-It’ Award WinnerRachel Bennett, a senior jeweler who has been with Borsheims since 2004, earned the award.
Policies & IssuesFeb 24, 2026
IEEPA Tariffs Terminated, New 10% Tariff Already ImposedAfter the Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs, President Trump imposed a 10 percent tax on almost all imports via a different law.
IndependentsFeb 24, 2026
Sherry Smith Now Principal Partner at The Retail SmithsThe industry veteran, who was with The Edge Retail Academy for 14 years, joins her husband at the company he founded in 2022.
IndependentsFeb 24, 2026
Yafa Signed Jewels to Open Store in MiamiThe vintage signed jewelry retailer chose Miami due to growing client demand in the city and the greater Latin American region.
WatchesFeb 24, 2026
Chrono24 Names New VP, U.S. General ManagerFormer Flight Club executive Jin Lee will bring his experience from the sneaker world to the pre-owned watch marketplace.
SourcingFeb 23, 2026
Designer Eddie Sakamoto, a Humble Artist, Dies at 72Sakamoto, who died in mid-January following a sudden illness, is remembered for his humility and his masterful, architectural designs.
Events & AwardsFeb 23, 2026
NYCJAOS Announces Four-Day Spring ShowThe April event will feature a new VIP shopping day requiring a special ticket.
TrendsFeb 23, 2026
Dua Lipa Is Bulgari’s New AmbassadorBulgari chose the British-Albanian singer-songwriter for her powerful and enduring voice in contemporary culture, the jeweler said.
Policies & IssuesFeb 20, 2026
Supreme Court Rules Against Most of President Trump’s TariffsIn a 6-3 ruling, the court said the president exceeded his authority when imposing sweeping tariffs under IEEPA.
ColumnistsFeb 20, 2026
Peter Smith: Happiness, Cavemen, and Jewelry SalesSmith encourages salespeople to ask customers questions that elicit the release of oxytocin, the brain’s “feel-good” chemical.
MajorsFeb 20, 2026
Jewelers Vigilance Committee Names Julie Yoakum Board ChairJVC also announced the election of five new board members.
CollectionsFeb 20, 2026
Boucheron’s ‘Faisceaux’ Brooch Heads to V&A MuseumThe brooch, our Piece of the Week, shows the chromatic spectrum through a holographic coating on rock crystal.
IndependentsFeb 19, 2026
Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Co-Founder ‘Mama Ann’ Bailey Dies at 100Raised in an orphanage, Bailey was 18 when she met her husband, Clyde. They opened their North Carolina jewelry store in 1948.
IndependentsFeb 19, 2026
Material Good Opens Third Location Material Good is celebrating its 10th anniversary as it opens its new store in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston.
Events & AwardsFeb 19, 2026
The Original Miami Beach Antique Show Returns in MarchThe show will be held March 26-30 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
