Sparks Fly as Burglars Lose Safe on California Freeway
JSA said a man and woman pulled the safe out of an Oakland jewelry store but couldn’t quite get it into their van.

The incident occurred earlier this month in Oakland.
According to JSA, on March 7, a man and a woman used a crowbar to break into a jewelry store in the middle of the night, tied a rope to the store’s safe, and tried to pull it out of the store using a van.
The rope, which was not strong enough, snapped. So, around 3:45 a.m., they returned with a heavy chain.
The chain worked, sort of.
According to JSA, they managed to get the safe out of the store.
JSA said they dragged it down the street for a bit, knocking over garbage cans, before accomplices in a Dodge Challenger arrived and helped them use a winch to lift one end of the safe into the van.
The other end still was dragging on the ground, sparks flying as the van drove on.
Police officers eventually spotted the van with the sparking safe trailing behind and began to pursue the vehicle.
Near an off-ramp of Interstate Highway 580, the safe fell off the van.
Though both it and the store were heavily damaged in the burglary, all the jewelry in the safe was intact, JSA said.
Police are still on the lookout for the burglars.
Anyone with information about the case of the burglars and the sparking safe is asked to contact JSA at 212-687-0328 or jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org.
The Latest

The alleged thieves used crow bars and sledgehammers to smash into jewelry stores across the state.

Ahead of the holidays, Smith urges jewelers to take a hard look at who’s buying jewelry, what they’re purchasing, and who’s stopped buying.

In the new consumer-facing campaign, four fashion and lifestyle creators share the stories behind their natural diamond pieces.

Experience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.

FGI President John Orrico is also leaving the company after more than 13 years.


The 2026 edition will feature presentations on alternative materials and design trends, as well as pop-up activations on the show floor.

It is the last fully operational diamond mine in Canada following the recent closures of Ekati and Diavik.

Submit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.

These jewels stood out at Bonhams’ sale of the cat-loving tech entrepreneur’s collection of objects depicting the feline form.

The fine jewelry brand has expanded the collection that debuted at Couture with four new designs based on its most popular styles.

The AGTA president was elected for a two-year term on the board of directors.

The partnership, a pledge to protect Africa’s Okavango River Basin, has been extended for an additional five years.

The new facility, its first outside of Thailand, will boost its manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.

The special-edition “Dream” pendant, our Piece of the Week, was created to mark Hearts On Fire’s 30-year milestone with 30 diamonds.

YouGov’s 2026 U.S. Most Recommended Brands report’s out, and a fast-fashion giant is sitting at No. 1 while Rolex is just shy of the top 5.

Proceeds from its jewelry raffle will benefit an organization working in India to combat silicosis, a lung disease affecting stone cutters.

The rings, crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills, celebrate the hockey team’s Stanley Cup win with design elements that honor its traditions.

This roundup of birthstone jewelry for October features vibrant tourmalines and opals with personality.

President Duma Boko spoke at back-to-back events in the city last week, touting Botswana’s stability and the diamond “bounceback.”

The catalog showcases 112 new, one-of-a-kind pieces amid highlights from the jeweler’s historic archive.

Its Montepuez Ruby Mining operation in Mozambique, which is not yielding enough high-quality rubies, has taken a $125 million hit.

Those surveyed were worried about the present and the future, with write-in responses mentioning high oil and gas prices.

The event will take place on the evening of Oct. 26 in New York City.

She is remembered for her joie de vivre, upbeat personality, genuine interest in other people, and love of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Online bidding is open now for Julien’s sale of items owned by the “Walk On By” singer, whose final album comes out this fall.

The founder and executive chairman of Stuller Inc. is being honored for his impact on the jewelry industry at the 25th annual Gem Awards.

December is the most popular month to propose, and jewelers need to keep that in mind when planning their holiday marketing.

























