JSA Issues Warning About Watch Robberies

New York—The Jewelers’ Security Alliance is warning jewelers to be wary of the risks involved in wearing expensive watches following a string of robberies on both coasts.

One of the most widely reported robberies involved Los Angeles jeweler Shay Belhassen, who was out to lunch in Beverly Hills when three armed men grabbed him from behind, choked him and put a gun to his head, JSA said.

They took his rose gold Richard Mille 11-03 Flyback Chronograph watch right off of his wrist.

A struggle ensued and a gun belonging to one of the suspects went off, injuring a woman in the restaurant.

As previously reported, Belhassen is offering a $50,000 reward for information on the suspects or the watch.

Those with information can also contact JSA at 212-687-0328 or jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org.

JSA said it recently has received numerous reports of jewelers being targeted and robbed in the New York and Los Angeles areas while wearing high-end watches, particularly Richard Mille watches, which can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The organization sent out an alert warning jewelers about the thefts last week, but President John J. Kennedy said he could not share additional details about specific incidents at this time.

One media report out of New York detailed the theft of a Audemars Piguet from a Queens man who said his jeweler friends had had their watches stolen too.