Supplier BulletinSep 24, 2026
Ship with Confidence with JM Shipping SolutionSponsored by JM Shipping
CrimeDec 18, 2018
Industry saw smash-and-grab ‘explosion’ in 2014
While overall jewelry crime continued to trend downward in 2014, there was a spike in the number of smash-and-grab robberies due primarily to two large gangs.
New York-- While overall jewelry crime continued to trend downward in 2014, there was a spike in the number of smash-and-grab robberies due primarily to two large gangs, the Jewelers’ Security Alliance said.
According to the JSA’s annual report, released Thursday, the report shows that the number of smash-and-grab robberies reported to the JSA rose 77 percent in 2014, from 62 to 110.
JSA President John J. Kennedy said he doesn’t believe the industry has ever seen so many smash-and-grabs in a single year. “This is really an explosion,” he said.
Many the work of two large and likely unrelated gangs, one based in Detroit and the other in California, these crimes continued through the first two months of the year but have slowed recently, due in part to the indictment of 17 individuals alleged to be part of the Detroit smash-and-grab ring, Kennedy said.
He said the two gangs perpetrating these crimes are huge--there are believed to be as many as 80 individuals involved in the Detroit area, including the 17 just indicted--and have a couple of experienced ringleaders who use money to lure non-experienced criminals in to do one or two jobs.
The robberies, where the perpetrators take heavy-weight hammers to display cases then grab the merchandise, targeted primarily cases of loose diamonds and high-end watches, pushing the total dollars losses for 2014 to $77.8 million, a 17 percent increase over the prior year.
They also plagued more mall jewelers than any other type of retailers in 2014, the JSA’s report shows. Of the 110 smash-and-grab robberies reported to the JSA in 2014, nearly half, 49, happened in mall jewelry stores.
A total of 26 happened in standalone stores, 13 in stores located in strip shopping centers, 12 in downtown stores, 6 in department stores and one in a jewelry store located in a hotel. (The location of three of the 110 was unknown.)
Kennedy said while it might seem counter-intuitive to go to a crowded mall to perpetrate such a visible crime, the robbers case the mall beforehand, perhaps selecting a store that’s close to an exit, and bank on being able to blend into the mall traffic after leaving the jewelry store. In addition, fewer mall stores have buzzers on their doors, making them easier targets.
To guard against smash-and-grabs, Kennedy said jewelers need to have buzzers on the door, which
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
can be a deterrent, and laminated glass in sturdy display cases. It also helps to have high-quality functioning cameras, to watch for people casing the store and to share information with other jewelers about anyone deemed suspicious.
“We have seen that if they can’t get (to the jewelry by) smashing the showcase, then they leave,” Kennedy said, adding that while these types of showcases might be expensive, they are worth it for stores carrying high-end merchandise.
While smash-and-grab robberies increased in 2014, industry crime was down overall.
The total number of crimes reported to the JSA decreased from 1,414 in 2013 to 1,381 in 2014, a 2 percent decline.
As mentioned, dollar losses increased year-over-year because of the smash-and-grab thefts of diamonds and high-end watches, but have been steadily dropping for years along with overall crime. Dollar losses are down 43 percent over the last 10 years when adjusted for inflation.
Other noteworthy statistics from the report include the following.
--The number of homicides of jewelers fell from five in 2013 to three in 2014.
-- There were two home invasions of retail jewelers, compared with three in 2013. After spiking in recent years, “tiger kidnappings,” incidences where jewelers are cased, then followed and attacked away from their store, have subsided in the past couple years.
--Multi-branch firms, retail chains and department stores experienced the lion’s share of thefts (grab-and-run, distraction thefts, switches, etc.) at 60 percent while independent jewelers had more robberies (64 percent) and burglaries (78 percent).
--Rooftop burglaries were up 6 percent year-over-year, with Florida the most active state for this crime. Three-minute burglaries, which are named for the amount of time they take to commit, were down 33 percent. The JSA noted that both of these types of crime occur when jewelry is left out in showcases overnight.
A PDF of the JSA’s entire 2014 report is available via JewelersSecurity.org.
More on Crime
The Latest
AuctionsSep 24, 2026
8-Carat Blue Diamond Heads to UK Jewelry AuctionThe fancy light blue diamond is estimated to fetch up to $2.6 million at Elmwood’s next week.
TrendsSep 24, 2026
This New Jewelry Book Decodes the Secret Meaning in Victorian Jewelry“Secret Language of Victorian Jewelry” unveils the meaning behind the symbols, motifs, and gemstones used in Victorian-era jewelry.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
Lab-GrownSep 24, 2026
Kira Jewels Opens B2B E-Commerce Portal for Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry KIRAJewels.one gives retailers access to more than 500 SKUs of lab-grown diamond rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.
Weekly QuizSep 24, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TrendsSep 23, 2026
Holiday Diamond Jewelry Trends: Layered Looks, PersonalizationThis holiday season, look to pieces that will help to fill out customers’ everyday diamond jewelry wardrobe, experts say.
SourcingSep 23, 2026
Organization That Promotes Natural Diamond Rebrands for Third Time The Natural Diamond Council is now The Diamond Collective and has announced a new strategy under CEO Amber Pepper.
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.
IndependentsSep 23, 2026
This Milwaukee-Area Jeweler Is Serving the 7CsPaul’s Jewelers sells coffee, chocolate, and cookies from a custom gold-wrapped trailer parked outside the store starting at 7 a.m.
MajorsSep 23, 2026
Kay Jewelers’ New Campaign Goes ‘All In’ on LovePart of its brand relaunch, the marketing around the campaign includes a contest involving a jacket set with 550 diamonds.
Events & AwardsSep 23, 2026
Tiffany & Co. Exhibition Opening at Arkansas Museum The curation, opening soon at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, honors the jeweler’s heritage through a distinctly American lens.
CollectionsSep 23, 2026
Pucker Up for Pandora’s New Pat McGrath Jewelry CollabThe jewelry giant has partnered with the famed makeup artist to create a colorful new collection of charms and rings.
IndependentsSep 23, 2026
Texas Jewelers Association to Celebrate 120th AnniversaryThe association will mark the milestone at its convention next month.
IndependentsSep 23, 2026
Sissy’s Log Cabin’s ‘Back to School and Bling’ Event ReturnsThe jeweler donated school supplies to Memphis, Tennessee, students during the event combining basketball and mentorship.
MajorsSep 22, 2026
Foundrae’s Lawsuit Against Pandora Can Continue, Court RulesA federal judge denied Pandora’s motion to dismiss Foundrae’s claim for copyright infringement of its medallions.
ColumnistsSep 22, 2026
Peter Smith: Our Struggle With Emotional SellingPeople aren’t thinking rationally when they are buying luxury products, and we shouldn’t be selling them that way, Peter Smith writes.
IndependentsSep 22, 2026
Constance Polamalu Named to '40 Under 40' ListThe Baltimore Business Journal recognized the entrepreneur for her leadership in business and the jewelry industry.
GradingSep 22, 2026
GCAL by Sarine Opens New Lab in MumbaiThe facility is located within SEEPZ and is GCAL by Sarine’s second location in India, joining its existing grading lab in Surat.
Events & AwardsSep 22, 2026
NYCJAOS Returns for Autumn EditionThe four-day show is slated for Nov. 19-22 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood.
AuctionsSep 21, 2026
Ultra-Rare Cartier Cheich Watch Sells for $3.4M Offered at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, the one-of-a-kind white gold watch now holds the title of most valuable Cartier wristwatch sold at auction.
MajorsSep 21, 2026
Longtime Industry Executive Pamela Bernstein-Gulla to RetireBernstein-Gulla has been working in the jewelry industry for 40 years, most recently as chief engagement officer for Hill & Co.
IndependentsSep 21, 2026
Bhindi Jewelers Moves Into New, Larger California StoreThe relocated Glendale store, now at The Americana at Brand, was designed to be a contemporary “timepiece haven” inspired by luxury resorts.
AuctionsSep 18, 2026
7.52-Carat Unheated Paraíba Tourmaline Sells for $1.3M at Sotheby’s The top lot of the auction house’s Hong Kong jewelry sale was an Art Deco Mauboussin necklace with ruby beads, which sold for $2 million.
Policies & IssuesSep 18, 2026
Tariffs, Retail Crime Top of Mind at JA’s Annual Fly-In Retailers and manufacturers headed to the Capitol this week to discuss tariff exemptions for diamonds and gemstones, among other issues.
CollectionsSep 18, 2026
Nanis Transforms Its ‘Boule’ Into a Mirror Our Piece of the Week is a pair of drop earrings from the “Sway” collection featuring Nanis’ first use of mirror-polished gold.
GradingSep 18, 2026
De Beers Introduces Faster Version of Diamond Screening Machine SynthDetect 2 can scan a full tray in less than five minutes, De Beers said, making it six times faster than its predecessors.
AuctionsSep 18, 2026
Noonans To Auction Medieval Gold Seal Ring Recovered By 2 FriendsTwo metal detectorists discovered the ring, which may have belonged to English noblewoman Matilda of Lancaster, in Suffolk.
