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 entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

The Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.

The jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.

The “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.


Interior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.

During a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.

Bench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.

The free program provides educational content for jewelry salespeople and enthusiasts to learn or refresh their diamond knowledge.

The feedback will be used to prepare other jewelers for the challenges ahead, the organization said.

The online sessions are designed to teach jewelers to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to grow their business.

The opening marks the jewelry retailer’s first location in the Midwest.

The “United in Love” collection offers tangible mementos of hearts entwined with traditional and non-traditional commitment heirlooms.

Robert Goodman Jewelers will hold a “Black Jewelry Designers and Makers” event on April 27.

The announcements follow a tumultuous start to 2025 for WJA, which saw a wave of resignations following controversial statements about DEI.

Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff answers questions about how the new taxes levied on countries like India and China will impact the industry.

Kenewendo, Botswana’s minster of minerals and energy, discusses closing the deal with De Beers and the work that was missed along the way.

The historic fancy vivid blue diamond set to headline Christie’s Geneva sale next month could sell for up to $50 million.

LVMH CFO Cécile Cabanis also discussed the effects of tariffs so far.

The organization has reelected Kalpesh Jhaveri as president.

An investigation found that the former managing director of Movado’s Dubai branch overstated and prematurely recorded sales.

The collection pays tribute to the Japanese philosophy of Ma, studying balance, stillness, and the interplay between presence and absence.

Mari Lou’s Fine Jewelry in Orland Park, a suburb of Chicago, is closing its doors.

GIA’s labs in Dubai and Hong Kong are now accepting larger diamonds in light of the “logistical challenges” presented by the new tariffs.

These earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels, featuring the same design as a pair worn by Princess Grace, are up for auction at Woolley & Wallis.

Two experts share how artificial intelligence tools can help retailers run a more efficient business.

Kentaro Nishimura, who has been with the pearl company since 1997, has been promoted to president and CEO of Mikimoto America.