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15 Security Tips For Making House Calls And Carrying Jewelry Off Premises August 25, 2020 (0 comments)

New York, NY—Following the July robbery of two traveling jewelry salespeople in Tampa, FL, the Jewelers Security Alliance has issued a reminder of its recommendations for safely carrying jewelry off premises, whether it’s sales reps on the road or retail jewelers making home calls to customers. Image: The suspects who robbed two traveling jewelry salespeople were traveling in this dark-colored Chrylser minivan, says JSA.

The sales reps were robbed in the parking lot of a Whole Foods store where they were parked between sales calls, but retail jewelers are vulnerable too—especially as more are making home calls to customers during the pandemic. As the industry gears back up, criminals are watching. Here are JSA’s tips for remaining safe:    

1. Never resist in a robbery.

2. Salespersons must take evasive driving action after every sales call, and before returning to their hotel, home, or office. Evasive driving tactics include driving very slowly, driving around the block, making U-turns or pulling into a bank or fast food parking lot. Are one or more cars following you? Be aware that gangs may be using multiple vehicles.

3.  Vary your route and time when traveling between home and your jewelry business. Check occasionally to see if you are being followed. 

4. As you drive to a retail location or your home, scout the area. Park as close to the main entrance to your destination as possible, do not enter or exit by a rear or secluded entrance, and do not remain seated in your parked car for any length of time before or after sales calls. 

5. Do not fall for distractions. If someone approaches you for change or directions, consider yourself a crime target and move on swiftly. 

6. Do not leave jewelry merchandise in an unattended vehicle.

7. If you are being followed, call 911 and say “I am about to be the victim of a robbery.” If possible, make your call obvious to the suspicious persons. Criminals who see you using your cell phone after you have spotted them are less likely to pursue.

8. If you experience trouble with your car trunk lock, door lock, or ignition key, or have a flat tire, radiator trouble, or are bumped by another car, consider yourself a crime target. Immediately get yourself to a place of safety.

9. Jewelers should not take valuable jewelry merchandise to their homes.

10. Even if you are not carrying jewelry merchandise, if you are visiting jewelry premises and are carrying a bag of any sort, you are a target. 

11. Gangs have been known to place GPS devices on the autos of salespersons. There are electronic devices available to detect the presence of GPS devices. Salespersons should also regularly inspect underneath their vehicle, and can carefully check their vehicle when a car is on a rack for an oil change.

12. Keep your travel plans confidential, including flights, departure and arrival times, hotels, rental cars, and locations to be visited.

13. Do not gas up prior to returning a rental car. Either purchase through the rental car company beforehand, or simply return the car. It is important to limit your exposure to risk as much as possible, whether at rental car companies, restaurants, hotels, parking lots, and elsewhere.

14. When you are entering a hotel lobby to check in, be particularly careful you are not being followed.

15. Retailers and traveling salespersons should cooperate, so that when a salesperson leaves a store to drive away, the retailer can keep an eye on the salesperson to make sure the salesperson is not being followed.