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JSA Warns of Violent String of Smash-and-Grabs in California
JSA has received reports of mobs swarming jewelry stores, driving cars into the storefront or smashing through the windows.
The Jewelers’ Security Alliance said since March, it has received reports of violent smash-and-grab robberies across California. The incidences involve mobs of up to 30 people swarming the store at once and smashing display cases to grab high-karat gold jewelry.
New York—The Jewelers’ Security Alliance issued a warning this week about a pattern of jewelry store robberies in California that JSA Executive Vice President Scott Guginsky described as one of the most violent he’s ever seen.
The smash-and-grabs involve gangs of 10 to 30 individuals who either arrive at the store in stolen vehicles and then rush in, armed with pickaxes and hammers, or ram a vehicle into the front of the store and then begin looting the cases.
“In all my years doing this, I’ve never seen this many vehicles being driven [into jewelry stores] and this many groups bum-rushing jewelry stores,” Guginsky said.
In one recent incident, a jewelry store owner in the Southern California city of Anaheim, about 25 miles south of Los Angeles, managed to scare off the would-be robbers.
According to a report from KTLA, the attempted smash-and-grab happened last Thursday just before 6:30 p.m. at Al-Amira Jewelry.
The smash-and-grabs involve gangs of 10 to 30 individuals who either arrive at the store in stolen vehicles and then rush in, armed with pickaxes and hammers, or ram a vehicle into the front of the store and then begin looting the cases.
“In all my years doing this, I’ve never seen this many vehicles being driven [into jewelry stores] and this many groups bum-rushing jewelry stores,” Guginsky said.
In one recent incident, a jewelry store owner in the Southern California city of Anaheim, about 25 miles south of Los Angeles, managed to scare off the would-be robbers.
According to a report from KTLA, the attempted smash-and-grab happened last Thursday just before 6:30 p.m. at Al-Amira Jewelry.
Security footage aired by the news station shows about 18 individuals, covered head to toe in black, red, and white clothing, jump out of what appears to be four different vehicles and rush toward the front of the jewelry store.
After the store’s owner fires a single shot in their direction, they all jump back into the cars and flee.
The KTLA report noted that a similar smash-and-grab robbery happened recently at store across the street from Al-Amira Jewelry.
Guginsky said since March, JSA has recorded 17 of these types of robberies in California, 12 of which have happened in Northern California, with four in Southern California (Anaheim and Artesia) and one in Fresno in Central California.
All of the incidents have occurred between 2 and 7 p.m., in broad daylight when stores are open (or have just closed) and staff and customers are present.
In 12 of these robberies, the perpetrators smashed through the front of the store in a stolen vehicle.
The remaining three were similar to the attempted robbery in Anaheim, where a group of individuals pulled up in separate vehicles and rushed the store.
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After the store’s owner fires a single shot in their direction, they all jump back into the cars and flee.
The KTLA report noted that a similar smash-and-grab robbery happened recently at store across the street from Al-Amira Jewelry.
Guginsky said since March, JSA has recorded 17 of these types of robberies in California, 12 of which have happened in Northern California, with four in Southern California (Anaheim and Artesia) and one in Fresno in Central California.
All of the incidents have occurred between 2 and 7 p.m., in broad daylight when stores are open (or have just closed) and staff and customers are present.
In 12 of these robberies, the perpetrators smashed through the front of the store in a stolen vehicle.
The remaining three were similar to the attempted robbery in Anaheim, where a group of individuals pulled up in separate vehicles and rushed the store.
Guginsky noted that the majority of business owners who have been targeted are South Asian.
Their stores are attractive targets for thieves right now because they carry high-quality (22-karat) gold jewelry, which easily can be fenced and is lucrative, with the current price of gold well above $3,000 an ounce.
He added that the crimes are believed to be the work of several different groups, not one gang or criminal enterprise.
They also seem to be planned in advance, given the number of individuals and stolen vehicles involved.
JSA has tips for jewelers to help prevent or mitigate losses from robberies like those currently happening in California.
Guginsky said first, retailers should notify local law enforcement about this pattern and request extra patrol coverage.
They should display less merchandise, or spread it out a little bit more, and also consider reinforcing the front of their stores with ballistic, shatter-resistant glass.
With the approval of their landlord, jewelers also might want to place flowerpots, stanchions, or bollards in front of the store as a barrier to stop, or at least slow down, vehicles.
Guginsky noted that all jewelers should have an insurance policy that adequately covers the value of their inventory, both what gets left in the vault and what doesn’t.
“You have to make sure you have proper insurance coverage for what is taken out and displayed in the store,” he said.
He said JSA always has recommended jewelers have armed security guards, preferably retired law enforcement, which can be a deterrent to perpetrators.
Lastly, jewelry store owners need to train staff not to resist in the event of a violent smash-and-grab or other robbery.
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