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10 Safety Tips for the Las Vegas Shows
The Jewelers’ Security Alliance offers advice for those attending the annual trade shows.
From hotel room safety to monitoring the booth, the Jewelers’ Security Alliance has provided a list of tips for exhibitors and attendees to keep in mind while attending the 2025 jewelry trade shows in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas—As the Las Vegas trade shows kick off later this week, the Jewelers’ Security Alliance has released a list of standard recommendations for exhibitors and attendees to help them stay safe and mitigate any potential losses.
Exhibitors are at “great risk” in hotels, car rental agencies, restaurants, parking lots, and generally when traveling to and from the show city, JSA said.
Criminals often use money drops, hotel room invasions, distraction techniques, thefts from unattended vehicles, and thefts on the show floor to steal exhibitor merchandise.
Here are 10 tips from JSA on staying safe before, during, and after trade shows.
1. Verify your insurance
Before heading to Las Vegas, verify with your insurance company that you have adequate insurance coverage when shipping, traveling with, or exhibiting jewelry at trade shows.
2. Ship smart
To prevent transportation-related losses, ship your goods to and from the show by an armored courier service.
Ensure that all received shipped boxes are accounted for and never left unattended and be sure to verify end-of-show shipping arrangements several days before the show closes.
3. Know what you have
Bring a complete, documented listing of all jewelry that will be exhibited during the show.
This documentation should include grading information, serial numbers, and photos of unique pieces.
In the event of a loss, law enforcement and insurance companies will need this information in a timely manner.
For non-jewelry items at the booth, like storage containers, consider using a GPS tracker, like an Apple AirTag, that allows you to track the property on your phone.
4. Safeguard your goods
All valuables should be vaulted immediately upon arrival. Do not bring any goods to a hotel or short-term rental.
Merchandise should never be left unattended in the booth, and showcases should only be unlocked when removing or returning merchandise.
Remember, setup and breakdown are particularly vulnerable times.
5. Control the booth
Buyer traffic can be intense at trade shows, and JSA has seen a surge in unattended bags being taken from booths.
Never store unattended bags under tables, and promptly return merchandise to safe or guarded locations when the show closes in the evenings.
Exhibitors who are concerned about not having enough personnel to manage merchandise at the booth might want to consider hiring a security officer for the show.
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Exhibitors are at “great risk” in hotels, car rental agencies, restaurants, parking lots, and generally when traveling to and from the show city, JSA said.
Criminals often use money drops, hotel room invasions, distraction techniques, thefts from unattended vehicles, and thefts on the show floor to steal exhibitor merchandise.
Here are 10 tips from JSA on staying safe before, during, and after trade shows.
1. Verify your insurance
Before heading to Las Vegas, verify with your insurance company that you have adequate insurance coverage when shipping, traveling with, or exhibiting jewelry at trade shows.
2. Ship smart
To prevent transportation-related losses, ship your goods to and from the show by an armored courier service.
Ensure that all received shipped boxes are accounted for and never left unattended and be sure to verify end-of-show shipping arrangements several days before the show closes.
3. Know what you have
Bring a complete, documented listing of all jewelry that will be exhibited during the show.
This documentation should include grading information, serial numbers, and photos of unique pieces.
In the event of a loss, law enforcement and insurance companies will need this information in a timely manner.
For non-jewelry items at the booth, like storage containers, consider using a GPS tracker, like an Apple AirTag, that allows you to track the property on your phone.
4. Safeguard your goods
All valuables should be vaulted immediately upon arrival. Do not bring any goods to a hotel or short-term rental.
Merchandise should never be left unattended in the booth, and showcases should only be unlocked when removing or returning merchandise.
Remember, setup and breakdown are particularly vulnerable times.
5. Control the booth
Buyer traffic can be intense at trade shows, and JSA has seen a surge in unattended bags being taken from booths.
Never store unattended bags under tables, and promptly return merchandise to safe or guarded locations when the show closes in the evenings.
Exhibitors who are concerned about not having enough personnel to manage merchandise at the booth might want to consider hiring a security officer for the show.
6. Remain vigilant in your room
When staying in hotel rooms, ensure the door closes properly and consider leaving the do not disturb sign on the door.
Other security practices include leaving the television on, as criminals might reconsider burglarizing hotel rooms if they hear the noise, JSA said, and locking the safe even if it is empty as a decoy for potential burglars.
JSA also noted that private and unauthorized hotel room meetings with merchandise present a serious security risk to exhibitors, customers, and other hotel guests. All goods should be kept in show vaults, not shown in hotel rooms.
7. No parking lot business
Organized criminal gangs conduct surveillance of parking garages and parking lots, JSA said, and jewelers have been previously targeted and robbed there.
Exercise caution when moving bags between the show and your hotel room, including laptops, large purses, and other items. JSA said there have been cases in which criminals switched jewelers’ bags with similar-looking ones.
It is important not to conduct transactions in the parking garage or personally transport jewelry from a vehicle into the show.
JSA recommends hiring security escorts.
8. Mind your badge
Do not identify yourself as a jeweler in public places such as taxis or ride shares, hotel lobbies and restaurants.
Be careful when discussing jewelry business in public places away from the show, especially in crowded areas.
Remove your show badge when leaving show areas and keep track of it. Carelessly discarding your badge may lead others to find and use it.
9. Be vigilant in public
Organized theft groups monitor after-hours locations looking for unattended pocketbooks and bags.
Historically, trade show attendees have lost jewelry due to distraction thefts at gaming tables, bars, and restaurants after leaving the show, said JSA, which noted an uptick in this type of theft.
Professional pickpocket teams are known to target individuals wearing high-end watches; JSA has seen distraction thefts in which pickpockets are able to remove watches without the victim knowing.
Use discretion when wearing and carrying high-end jewelry, particularly when traveling to and from shows, dining in restaurants, and visiting other public places. Violent street robberies involving people wearing expensive watches and high-end jewelry are common.
10. See something, say something
All attendees are required to always display their show credentials.
Let show personnel know if you become aware of an attendee who doesn’t meet these requirements, and report any suspicious activities or behaviors observed while at the show.
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