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As Jewelers’ Business Comes Back Nationwide, Burglars Are Back Too, Says JSA October 07, 2020 (0 comments)
New York, NY—The Jewelers Security Alliance has noted an uptick in burglaries in the last two weeks as the professional burglars return following a long period of inactivity. Recent burglary cases are occurring from coast to coast, and were carried out by different gangs. Jewelers should review their burglary preparedness and consider the recommendations below.
1. Jewelers should confirm with their alarm company that their alarm system will provide protection from entry from the roof, side walls, and all possible points of entry, in addition to alarm protection for the doors, windows and safe.
2. All jewelry premises need adequate line security for their alarm system, and need to test their system from time to time.
3. An empty store or unprotected premise adjacent to a jewelry store presents an especially attractive target for burglars to use to enter from a sidewall.
4. Police and jewelers must respond to all alarm signals promptly, and examination of only the ground floor doors and windows is not sufficient. The roof, sidewalls and all possible points of entry must be examined, including through neighboring premises.
5. Electrical junction boxes need to be examined since some gangs cut or disconnect electrical systems to disable alarm systems and cameras.
6. Make sure your firm's alarm company call list is up-to-date, with adequate responders even during vacation periods, holidays and weekends. Jewelry personnel should never enter the jewelry premises alone in response to an alarm signal, but should wait to be accompanied by police.
7. Do not position a safe on an outside wall or a wall of a neighboring office or store that would allow burglars to break through a wall and penetrate the safe without even entering the jewelers premises.
8. TL-15x6 and TL-30x6 rated safes are not adequate protection from today's burglars, who can purchase inexpensive cutting devices from stores such as Home Depot or Lowe's. These devices can cut into and penetrate these safes.
9. Burglars may remove camera surveillance equipment when leaving the store. It is recommended to have your surveillance images also sent and stored in the cloud or to a remote location, in addition to any images saved at the store.
10. Don't leave merchandise out at night in showcases. Leaving any merchandise in showcases is a magnet for burglars. Even if all merchandise will not fit in a safe, lock low-end merchandise away and out of sight in a closet or drawer. If burglars are attracted and break through walls and windows, and smash showcases, the damage to the store and possible business interruption can be more costly than the loss of the low-end merchandise. Furthermore, burglars often take enough low-end merchandise that is left out overnight to amount to a significant loss.
11. Don't cover showcases with cloth or other material when the store is closed. It is safer when potential burglars case your store to see empty, exposed showcases rather than covered showcases.
12. It is best to use interior lighting when closed as long as you put away all goods. Criminals casing the store will see that the showcases are empty, and police or anyone passing by will be better able to see intruders.