Sherry Smith shares data on the year gone by, including the breakdown between natural and lab-grown diamond sales.
9 People Distract Jeweler, Clean Out Safe
The jewelry theft happened last month at a store in Aurora, Colorado.
Aurora, Colo.—Police in Colorado are looking for nine people who distracted a local jewelry store owner while one member of their crew crawled to and cleaned out the safe.
According to an alert issued Friday by the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, the group—a mix of women and men—entered an Aurora, Colorado, jewelry store together.
They pretended to be legitimate customers while, as footage from the store’s security camera aired by the Fox News affiliate in Denver shows, one woman crouches and waddles her way through an apparently unlocked gate to where the safe is.
She then proceeds to remove jewelry from the safe and place it in a bag, the tape shows.
WATCH: Fox 31 Denver Airs Security Footage from Jewelry Distraction Theft
{youtube} SlbSWInqMlc{/youtube}
Fox 31 Denver identified the store as Sai Jewelers & Repair and reported that $35,000 in jewelry was stolen.
Eight of the nine suspects are pictured below in security camera stills cleaned up by local police.
The JSA said the suspects are members of the nomadic ethnic group Roma, also known as Gypsies.
Members of the group have been linked to multiple crimes across the country in recent years, including a similar jewelry theft in Glendale, California, in June 2017.
The JSA said retailers should be on high alert for potential jewelry theft when larger groups of people—typically three or more—enter the store together and appear intent on distracting the store owner or employees.
The alliance also recommends keeping the store’s safe, or safes, locked during the day and keeping any doors or gates to the back room locked as well.
The Latest
The company also is matching donations made to Jewelers of America and the Diamond Council of America’s Jewelers Relief Fund.
Now in its fourth year, the program is expanding to include a list of “20 Under 40” for jewelry suppliers.
The new year feels like a clean slate, inspiring reflection, hope, and the motivation to become better versions of ourselves.
Core retail sales during the 2024 holiday season surpassed the National Retail Federation’s forecast.
The “Reach for Life” collection uses feather and arrow motifs to invite growth and inner curiosity.
Peter Smith pulls back the curtain on the often misinterpreted, and sometimes maligned, world of sales training.
A Diamond is Forever hosted a holiday celebration in honor of their new marketing campaign, ‘Forever Present.’
Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year takes the form of jewelry through gemstones and enamel that look just as delicious as mocha mousse.
From raffles to auctions to donations, the industry is working to aid charities in Los Angeles amid the raging wildfires.
Julia Hackman Chafé and Monica Elias have joined the organization’s board of directors.
The company, which owns Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, had a record Q3, with sales topping $6 billion.
The necklace features a sapphire drop weighing more than 9 carats that detaches to transform into a ring.
Jameel Mohammed, founder of Afrofuturist brand Khiry, will receive a cash prize and a one-year paid fellowship with Tiffany & Co.
The 127-year-old jeweler is planning to open a new store in Mystic, Connecticut.
The watches’ dials feature artwork celebrating the vibrant energy and unique landscapes of six of America’s national parks.
Offered by U.K. auction house Woolley & Wallis, the yellow diamond bracelet was a gift from Taylor’s good friend Michael Jackson.
The jewelry trade show returns to The Venetian Expo and The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas from June 6 to 9.
Associate Editor Natalie Francisco highlights her favorite fashion jewelry pieces from the upcoming “Unapologetically Iris” auction.
The closures are part of the retailer’s plan to close 150 locations over a three-year period.
The online guide is available for free and written with the jewelry industry in mind.
The awards honor the late Jose Hess, a founding member of AJDC and an award-winning jewelry designer.
The grading lab said the search for her successor is underway.
In this special op-ed, designer Jules Kim calls on big brands to collaborate with independent creators instead of copying their designs.
A pioneering figure in gemology, he is remembered for his spirit of generosity, curiosity, and joy.
The peak selling days leading up to Christmas did not meet the jewelry retailer’s expectations.
Schneider brings over 20 years of luxury and fashion industry experience to his role as a key member of the brand’s global leadership team.