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Campbell, CA—Not once, or twice, or even three times. Aaron Peleg, owner of Geoffrey’s Diamonds in Campbell, CA, has been hit four times by a smash-and-grab gang.

In the latest theft, a gang of three kicked in a window to get into the store roughly around 3 a.m., then promptly removed covers from showcases, smashed the tempered glass, and cleared out a half-million dollars’ worth of goods, all while the alarm was going off.

Peleg told KPIX-TV the thieves get bolder every time. Campbell police captain Ian White, meanwhile, said the department is frustrated as well, but holding crime suspects has been a challenge during the pandemic so more had to be released without bail. The result has been higher repeat offenses.

Neither KPIX’s report nor one on NBC Bay Area mentioned whether the jeweler had additional merchandise locked up in any safes.

The Jewelers Security Alliance, meanwhile, is very clear about leaving jewelry in showcases when the store is closed. In a word, don’t. Says JSA:

• Do not 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.
• Don't cover showcases with a 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.
• 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.

Related: JSA Names 14 Points of Protection for Jewelers as Burglaries Soar