MajorsSep 08, 2026
Former Tiffany & Co. Exec Joins Exemplar Luxury GroupGretchen Koback Pursel is the new chief people officer at the company formerly known as Saks Global.
OtherAug 24, 2014
What jewelers can learn from crimes in California
A recent wave of crime in California holds a valuable lesson for retailers everywhere: always be mindful of being watched, Jewelers Mutual’s David Sexton writes.
David Sexton, CPCU, is the vice president of loss prevention consulting at Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company. He can be reached at 800-558-6411 or dsexton@jminsure.com.
Crime is an ever-present threat to jewelers throughout the country, but California jewelers are having a particularly active year.
In jewelry crime driven by organized crews, it’s not uncommon to see a recurrence of similar losses in a single geographic area or even to see specific types of crime scenarios move from one geographic area of to another as the perpetrators attempt to outpace law enforcement authorities. Jewelers especially in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco have witnessed an increase in criminal activity this year.
Despite these periodic localized spikes in criminal activity, it’s important for jewelers nationwide to always consider the types of crimes being committed and how vulnerable their own operations might be to a similar criminal attack. By being proactive, you will be better prepared to avoid being targeted and keep your business more safe and secure.
A disturbing trend
Jewelers Mutual continues to work closely with the Jewelers’ Security Alliance to track reported crimes and educate the industry on how jewelers effectively can engage in their own protection. Some recent criminal activity against jewelers reported in California include:
--A team of armed robbers forced the associates of a southern California mall jewelry store to open showcases and hand over approximately 40 Rolex watches. Another store location of the same jeweler in the same area had been robbed in a similar manner less than a year ago.
--Just weeks ago, two jewelry salespeople traveling together were driving in the Los Angeles area when robbers using two cars boxed them in on a highway exit ramp. The robbers smashed the windows of the victim’s vehicle, reached in, released the trunk latch and made off with the salespeople’s merchandise.
--Early in July, four robbers armed with knives violently robbed two diamond salespeople who had conducted business earlier that day in downtown Los Angeles. When the salespeople drove to dinner, they were accosted by criminals who stole the merchandise they were carrying, their passports and cash. The robbers did not get any jewelry merchandise, because the salespeople wisely had left their lines in a safe.
-- In June, criminals broke into a vehicle belonging to a jewelry salesperson who worked in downtown Los Angeles. The break-in occurred in the parking lot of a store at which the salesperson had stopped while on her way to the airport.
-- In May, a rooftop burglary occurred in
a southern California jewelry store. Burglars entered through the roof, disabled the surveillance and burglar alarm systems, and successfully penetrated one safe. As they were attacking a second safe, they inadvertently started a fire that damaged the building.
-- Also in May, a thief successfully “switched” a 3-carat diamond with a cubic zirconia at a jewelry store in the Los Angeles area.
-- In April, burglars conducted a rooftop burglary at a jewelry store in the Los Angeles area. The criminals broke into an adjacent un-alarmed store and cut through the common wall shared with the jewelry store and penetrated the back of the jeweler’s safe undetected. They then successfully removed all of the safe’s contents.
-- Another rooftop burglary took place within 30 miles of the aforementioned crime. Thieves broke in through the roof, disabled the burglar alarm system and then successfully penetrated the safe.
-- Also in April, a jewelry salesperson was robbed on Interstate 5 between San Diego and Los Angeles. Robbers used three vehicles to box the salesperson in and proceeded to rob him at gunpoint.
-- In March, a rooftop burglary occurred in the San Francisco area. The thieves cut through the roof of an adjacent unprotected premises, cut through the common wall shared with the jewelry store, and penetrated the back of the jeweler’s safe, which had been situated against the same adjoining wall.
This rise in rooftop burglaries and crimes against traveling jewelry salespeople has led investigators to suspect the hand of well-organized criminal gangs and/or crews in many of these and other incidents.
While the crimes themselves differ, all of these cases indicate a degree of surveillance was conducted prior to the attacks. The perpetrators collected the requisite intelligence about their targets in advance to help them successfully evaluate their victim’s habits and vulnerabilities.
What can you do?
Always assume that criminals are observing you and your store. Because you are in the jewelry industry, you are indeed a potential target regardless of where your operation may be located.
Encourage your staff to maintain and share a suspicious incident log of all unusual behavior, individuals or vehicles your team observes. If you suspect your store is being cased, contact the local authorities.
For more information to help protect your business, visit Jewelers Mutual’s Safety and Security page at JewelersMutual.com.
-- Also in May, a thief successfully “switched” a 3-carat diamond with a cubic zirconia at a jewelry store in the Los Angeles area.
-- In April, burglars conducted a rooftop burglary at a jewelry store in the Los Angeles area. The criminals broke into an adjacent un-alarmed store and cut through the common wall shared with the jewelry store and penetrated the back of the jeweler’s safe undetected. They then successfully removed all of the safe’s contents.
-- Another rooftop burglary took place within 30 miles of the aforementioned crime. Thieves broke in through the roof, disabled the burglar alarm system and then successfully penetrated the safe.
-- Also in April, a jewelry salesperson was robbed on Interstate 5 between San Diego and Los Angeles. Robbers used three vehicles to box the salesperson in and proceeded to rob him at gunpoint.
-- In March, a rooftop burglary occurred in the San Francisco area. The thieves cut through the roof of an adjacent unprotected premises, cut through the common wall shared with the jewelry store, and penetrated the back of the jeweler’s safe, which had been situated against the same adjoining wall.
This rise in rooftop burglaries and crimes against traveling jewelry salespeople has led investigators to suspect the hand of well-organized criminal gangs and/or crews in many of these and other incidents.
While the crimes themselves differ, all of these cases indicate a degree of surveillance was conducted prior to the attacks. The perpetrators collected the requisite intelligence about their targets in advance to help them successfully evaluate their victim’s habits and vulnerabilities.
What can you do?
Always assume that criminals are observing you and your store. Because you are in the jewelry industry, you are indeed a potential target regardless of where your operation may be located.
Encourage your staff to maintain and share a suspicious incident log of all unusual behavior, individuals or vehicles your team observes. If you suspect your store is being cased, contact the local authorities.
For more information to help protect your business, visit Jewelers Mutual’s Safety and Security page at JewelersMutual.com.
More on Other
The Latest
IndependentsSep 08, 2026
Ricky Bromberg, Longtime President of Bromberg & Co., Dies at 67 Bromberg is remembered as a Southern gentleman who always wore a suit and tie and treated others with kindness.
TrendsSep 08, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: A Hot Take on September’s Birthstone With high durability and a wide range of colors to choose from, sapphires may be the ultimate birthstone, Gizzi claims.
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.
ColumnistsSep 08, 2026
Peter Smith: Humor Is No Laughing MatterLaughter is often considered a distraction in the workplace, but it has benefits for both staff and management, Peter Smith writes.
Weekly QuizSep 03, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsSep 04, 2026
Orloff Jewelers Will Soon Unveil a Bigger, Better LocationThe California jeweler is renovating its store in Fresno, with plans to show off the new space in December.
CollectionsSep 04, 2026
Chelsea Gabrielle Transforms Pilates Reformer Springs Into Ring A lifelong practitioner of Pilates, Gabrielle looked to the springs’ tension and suspension when creating this ring, our Piece of the Week.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
Events & AwardsSep 04, 2026
JCK Industry Fund Accepting 2027 ApplicationsThe deadline to apply is Nov. 13.
AuctionsSep 04, 2026
Christie's Names New Global Head of WatchesThe auction house has promoted Remi Guillemin, formerly its head of watches for the Americas and EMEA, to the role.
EditorsSep 03, 2026
Q&A: Simon G.’s CEO on Why He Won’t Use AI for Jewelry DesignZaven Ghanimian discussed the value of human craftsmanship and where the implementation of artificial intelligence does work.
Events & AwardsSep 03, 2026
Here Are the First Recipients of Nina Pugliese Memorial Scholarship Jewelers of America also revealed the recipients of the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship and its own scholarship programs.
WatchesSep 03, 2026
Robert Pattinson Joins Jaeger-LeCoultre as Brand AmbassadorThe British actor, known for his roles in “Twilight” and “The Odyssey,” will star in a campaign for the Master Control Chronometre.
CollectionsSep 03, 2026
Sydney Evan Celebrates 25 Years With 4 New CollectionsThe “Confetti Disco,” “Champagne Cheers,” “Tuxedo,” and “Classic Punk” jewelry collections each capture a distinct spirit of celebration.
CrimeSep 02, 2026
CA Jeweler Gets 5 Years in ‘Phantom Rolex’ Ponzi SchemeNelson Holdo of Newport Beach pleaded guilty to multiple counts of felony grand theft and writing bad checks and was sentenced Monday.
AuctionsSep 02, 2026
If You Love Cats, This Jewelry Auction Is for YouCat ladies of the jewelry world, unite. Sandy Lerner’s “significant” collection of cat jewelry and other objects is going up for auction.
MajorsSep 02, 2026
Messika Names Former Omega Exec as New President, CEO of AmericasArnaud Michon, the former Omega USA President, will now lead Messika’s Americas region during its international development.
Events & AwardsSep 02, 2026
Emerald’s New Owner Introduces ‘Glitter in the Grove’The branding references the back-to-back jewelry shows that new parent company Forge will host in Miami's Coconut Grove this November.
AuctionsSep 01, 2026
UK Woman Uncovers Rare Patek Philippe Watch in Mom’s Jewelry BoxThe stainless steel Patek Philippe “Calatrava” watch from the 1930s sold for nearly $80,000 at a recent Hansons Cornwall auction.
ColumnistsSep 01, 2026
Your Jewelry Marketing Has a Bridal ProblemEngagement rings are important but don’t ignore the customers who are buying jewelry “just because,” Emmanuel Raheb writes.
MajorsSep 01, 2026
Kering Names New Pomellato, DoDo CEOsFormer Pomellato CEO Sabina Belli has been named president of Kering Italia amid a shakeup of Kering's new Jewelry division.
MajorsSep 01, 2026
Anne Marie Shulman Joins GPA GlobalThe veteran luxury packaging executive was appointed to help the company grow its North American business.
CrimeAug 31, 2026
$4M Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Necklace Snatched From Vienna Museum Once the property of an Egyptian queen, the necklace was part of a larger exhibition of VCA jewelry at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK).
GradingAug 31, 2026
GIA, Gübelin Gem Lab Confirm New Paraíba Tourmaline Deposit in EthiopiaThe labs’ separate investigations each determined that the East African country is producing copper-bearing tourmaline.
Events & AwardsAug 31, 2026
Wisconsin Museum to Host Jewelry Exhibition“Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective” at the Oshkosh Public Museum will feature works by Fabergé, Lalique, and Louis Comfort Tiffany.
CollectionsAug 31, 2026
Catbird Launches First Men’s Jewelry CollectionThe “Worn Well” collection is Catbird's take on classic men's jewelry.
CollectionsAug 28, 2026
Dolly Parton Would Have Loved This Butterfly Necklace This Buddha Mama butterfly is our Piece of the Week honoring the legend, who embraced the beautiful insect as her symbol.
