CrimeOct 02, 2020
Tips for Burglary Prevention as Professionals ‘Return to Work’ CrimeDec 17, 2020
Professional Gangs Sent Industry Dollar Losses Soaring in 2019
Overall, though, the number of crimes was essentially flat and for the first time in decades, no industry personnel were murdered while on the job.
New York—The U.S. jewelry industry saw dollar losses from crime almost double last year, driven by a spike in the number of organized, professional gangs pulling off multimillion-dollar burglaries.
According to the annual crime report for 2019 compiled by the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, dollar losses due to crimes against the industry totaled $101 million in 2019, up 89 percent from $53.4 million in 2018.
The last time annual industry losses topped $100 million was 2009, JSA statistics show.
Burglary losses were the biggest contributor to the jump, more than tripling from $11.6 million in 2018 to $40.5 million in 2019.
JSA President John J. Kennedy said a surge in the number of burglary gangs from South America, particularly from Chile, operating in the United States was the main driver behind the spike.
These crews are sophisticated.
They can disable entire electrical systems in jewelry stores—something jewelers were well aware of last year, as JSA sent out a number of alerts about jewelry stores having their power lines cut—knocking out both the alarms and the cameras.
Once inside stores, these gangs can also get into safes, enabling them to essential clean out a store’s entire inventory and make off with millions.
JSA’s report shows that the number of safe attack burglaries more than tripled, increasing from 13 in 2018 to 44 in 2019. The average loss from a safe attack burglary grew from $221,000 to $491,000.
“Most jewelers do not have adequate safes,” Kennedy noted. “The ratings [the safes] have are too low.”
He also pointed out that it doesn’t take a lot of gangs to drive up dollar losses in the jewelry, where the total number of crimes committed against the industry per year—in 2019, 1,438—is relatively low when compared with the overall scope of crime nationwide.
“We’re not talking about huge numbers compared with car thefts or commercial break-ins. You’re talking about a relatively small number of cases,” he said. “A small number of gangs can drive a big increase in dollar losses, and that’s what we had.”
While safe robberies and other high-dollar heists caused losses to soar last year, overall 2019 was not a particularly violent or unsafe year for the U.S. jewelry industry.
The number of crimes committed against the industry was essentially flat year-over-year, 1,441 in 2018 compared with 1,438 in 2019.
And JSA recorded zero homicides of jewelers, which is rare and hasn’t happened in decades.
JSA released its annual crime report for 2019 earlier this month.
Normally published in the fall, pulling it together this year was “particularly challenging” given the disruptions caused by COVID-19, Kennedy said.
Related stories will be right here …
According to the annual crime report for 2019 compiled by the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, dollar losses due to crimes against the industry totaled $101 million in 2019, up 89 percent from $53.4 million in 2018.
The last time annual industry losses topped $100 million was 2009, JSA statistics show.
Burglary losses were the biggest contributor to the jump, more than tripling from $11.6 million in 2018 to $40.5 million in 2019.
JSA President John J. Kennedy said a surge in the number of burglary gangs from South America, particularly from Chile, operating in the United States was the main driver behind the spike.
These crews are sophisticated.
They can disable entire electrical systems in jewelry stores—something jewelers were well aware of last year, as JSA sent out a number of alerts about jewelry stores having their power lines cut—knocking out both the alarms and the cameras.
Once inside stores, these gangs can also get into safes, enabling them to essential clean out a store’s entire inventory and make off with millions.
JSA’s report shows that the number of safe attack burglaries more than tripled, increasing from 13 in 2018 to 44 in 2019. The average loss from a safe attack burglary grew from $221,000 to $491,000.
“Most jewelers do not have adequate safes,” Kennedy noted. “The ratings [the safes] have are too low.”
He also pointed out that it doesn’t take a lot of gangs to drive up dollar losses in the jewelry, where the total number of crimes committed against the industry per year—in 2019, 1,438—is relatively low when compared with the overall scope of crime nationwide.
“We’re not talking about huge numbers compared with car thefts or commercial break-ins. You’re talking about a relatively small number of cases,” he said. “A small number of gangs can drive a big increase in dollar losses, and that’s what we had.”
While safe robberies and other high-dollar heists caused losses to soar last year, overall 2019 was not a particularly violent or unsafe year for the U.S. jewelry industry.
The number of crimes committed against the industry was essentially flat year-over-year, 1,441 in 2018 compared with 1,438 in 2019.
And JSA recorded zero homicides of jewelers, which is rare and hasn’t happened in decades.
JSA released its annual crime report for 2019 earlier this month.
Normally published in the fall, pulling it together this year was “particularly challenging” given the disruptions caused by COVID-19, Kennedy said.
JSA Senior Crime Analyst Ryan Ruddock and Vice President Scott Guginsky authored the report.
Other highlights include the following.
— Smash-and-grab robberies also contributed to the spike in dollar losses, Kennedy said, as jewelers stand to lose a lot when criminals begin destroying showcases full of product.
The number of smash-and-grabs was essentially flat year-over-year, 129 in 2018 vs. 130 in 2019. Nearly half of them (59) happened at mall jewelry stores.
— While there were no homicides of jewelry industry personnel on the job in 2019, one customer, two bystanders and three robbers were killed.
— The number of three-minute burglaries (so named because that’s how long they take to commit) increased 11 percent year-over-year, from 134 to 148, with the average loss from these incidences rising from $21,000 to $27,000.
B3Ms usually happen in the middle of the night by smashing through a glass front door or window of a store.
— The number of grab-and-run thefts was down slightly year-over-year, slipping 4 percent from 641 to 616. While the average loss from a grab-and-run is around $10,000, there was one in Washington state that cost a jeweler $183,000.
Grab-and-runs made up the bulk (72 percent) of all thefts in 2019.
— JSA received one report of a major trade show loss, $400,000 at a trade show held in Los Angeles in January of last year.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
Looking ahead to 2021, Kennedy said he expects little activity in the first part of the year as people stay home to weather another wave of COVID-19 and stores potentially are forced to closed again.
“I can’t predict the future but if I were to look into my crystal ball, I would say in the first part of the year, it’s going to be quiet again,” he said.
But he expects that to change in the back half of the year, as criminals who have been dormant for months will be in need of money.
“If ‘19 was any harbinger, we can say that 2021 might [bring] very significant losses,” Kennedy said.
“Jewelers should be very careful to make sure their alarm systems work. They should test them and they should make sure their whole premises is covered.”
A copy of the entire report is available on the JSA website.
More on Crime
The Latest
IndependentsOct 15, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Amy and Elise Greenberg For 40 years, sisters Amy and Elise Greenberg have helmed their 126-year-old family business, leading with appreciation and integrity.
ColumnistsOct 15, 2026
Peter Smith: What Is the Culture REP?It’s a term Smith coined and felt compelled to share following a bad experience with an aborted flight and an unfeeling flight attendant.
WatchesOct 15, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb’s New Movado Watches Are Made for Your Wrist StackMovado teamed up with the New York-based fine jewelry designer on a new collection of Movado Museum Velura watches.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
SourcingOct 15, 2026
Signet Jewelers, Richemont May Join Bidder for De Beers, Report SaysThe two companies are reportedly in talks to join the Global Diamond Consortium, led by former De Beers CEO Gareth Penny, as per Bloomberg.
Weekly QuizOct 08, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsOct 15, 2026
Wolf x Marla Aaron's New Jewelry Box Is for Some (Not All) of Your ThingsThe “Some of the Things” box follows the two larger “Everything” box designs with the look and function of antique sewing and toolboxes.
IndependentsOct 14, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Coleman and Mitchell ClarkFourth-generation jewelers Coleman and Mitchell Clark exemplify the best qualities of their predecessors: humility, modesty, and confidence.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
SourcingOct 14, 2026
Manuel Marcial de Gomar, ‘The Emerald Whisperer,’ Dies at 90The gem hunter, whose 70-year career was defined by adventure and exploration, is remembered for his steadfast faith and sense of wonder.
FinancialsOct 14, 2026
LVMH’s Jewelry Brands Turn in ‘Very Good’ Performance in Q3 Tiffany & Co. continued its full-scale store renovation project while Bulgari’s high jewelry collection generated “record-breaking revenue.”
Events & AwardsOct 14, 2026
Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference Releases 2026 ProgramThis year’s sessions feature leading voices from human rights, legal, and conservation organizations.
MajorsOct 13, 2026
David Webb Owner Purchases Lugano JewelryThe high-end jewelry retailer was sold to private investment firm Middle West Partners and a group of longtime clients.
Lab-GrownOct 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Takes Lab-Grown Diamond Collection WholesaleThe jewelry designer has partnered with Sofer Jewelry to distribute her 85-piece lab-grown diamond collection.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Retailer Hall of Fame 2026: Sean DunnDunn, this year’s Single-Store Independent inductee, is passionate about innovation and telling the story of natural diamonds.
AuctionsOct 13, 2026
Christie's Geneva To Auction 'Bulgari Pink' DiamondThe 24-carat fancy intense pink diamond ring could fetch up to $18 million at the November sale.
IndependentsOct 13, 2026
Greenwich St. Jewelers’ New Candle Smells Like HomeThe “Island Jewel” candle honors New York City and Puerto Rico and raises money for the island’s water relief efforts.
TechnologyOct 13, 2026
GemFind Is a New JA Member Benefit Partner The partnership will give JA members access to preferred pricing, exclusive benefits, technology solutions, education, and resources.
SurveysOct 09, 2026
These Will Be the 10 Busiest Days for In-Store Shopping This Holiday SeasonStores should expect to see the most customers on Nov. 27, and Christmas week is expected to be hectic too, as Dec. 25 falls on a Friday.
CollectionsOct 09, 2026
Elisa Solomon Collabs With Serendipity 3 on ‘Frozen Hot Chocolate’ CharmThe charm, our Piece of the Week, features brown diamond frozen hot chocolate topped with white diamond whipped cream and a ruby straw.
AuctionsOct 09, 2026
8-Carat Blue Diamond Goes Unsold at UK Jewelry Auction The top lot of Elmwood’s recent fine jewelry sale in London was a 1.84-carat, D color Tiffany & Co. solitaire diamond ring.
WatchesOct 09, 2026
Movado to Sell Majority Stake in Ebel for $66.5MThe watch company agreed to sell a 95 percent interest to a group comprised of F.P. Journe, Chanel, and Swiss watch exec Pierre Jacques.
Policies & IssuesOct 08, 2026
Third Wave of IEEPA Tariff Refunds Begins This round of tariff refunds is for importers that have sued over IEEPA tariffs in the Court of International Trade and won.
CollectionsOct 08, 2026
Brent Neale’s New Collection Goes ‘Back to Basics’It revisits the brand’s most requested silhouettes, from "Pillow"-set necklaces and bracelets to "Signature"-set rings and earrings.
SourcingOct 08, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair Heads Back to BrooklynThe trade-only event includes buying opportunities as well as educational sessions on artisanal mining, the new Paraíba source, and more.
Events & AwardsOct 08, 2026
Pattons Fine Jewelry Sweeps Local Design ContestAra Chanakian, a jeweler at Pattons, took home top honors in every category at Jewelers of Louisiana’s annual jewelry design competition.
AuctionsOct 08, 2026
Reba McEntire’s Jewelry, Watches Head to Julien’s AuctionsThe live charity benefit sale in Nashville will also feature gowns, boots, and other memorabilia from the country music legend.
Supplier BulletinOct 08, 2026
Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Helps Jewelers Turn Custom Design into a Hands-On Selling ExperienceSponsored by Overnight Mountings
