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Scammers Are Taking Jewelry from New Yorkers on the Street

Police warn residents to “keep your jewelry hidden.”

Published

1 year ago

June 20, 2022

INSTORE Staff

Police in Staten Island are advising residents to hide their jewelry while walking down the street.

Scammers are distracting and tricking Staten Islanders with the aim of getting their jewelry, according to a tweet from Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon.

McMahon posted a flyer from the New York Police Department stating that “crews of thieves have been reportedly stealing jewelry from elderly victims, often using children as a distraction.”

“These scammers may try to get close and swap the victim’s real jewelry with fake jewelry under the ruse of a gift, prayer or blessing,” police said. “They may claim they need cash, offering fake jewelry in exchange.”

The the thieves are “sophisticated” and so residents should be vigilant, according to the NYPD’s Patrol Borough Staten Island.

“When caught, we will fully prosecute those who steal from law-abiding SI’ers,” Patrol Borough Staten Island stated.

.@NYPDstatenIslnd has learned of a disturbing trend where thieves distract & trick SI’ers w/ the aim of taking their jewelry. These crooks are sophisticated, so please be vigilant & see the tips below. When caught, we will fully prosecute those who steal from law-abiding SI’ers pic.twitter.com/XJn6HQSKhF

— Michael E. McMahon (@StatenIslandDA) June 17, 2022

When There’s No Succession Plan, Call Wilkerson

Bob Wesley, owner of Robert C. Wesley Jewelers in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a third-generation jeweler. When it was time to enjoy life on the other side of the counter, he weighed his options. His lease was nearing renewal time and with no succession plan, he decided it was time to call Wilkerson. There was plenty of inventory to sell and at first, says Wesley, he thought he might try to manage a sale himself. But he’s glad he didn’t. “There’s no way I could have done this as well as Wilkerson,” he says. Wilkerson took responsibility for the entire event, with every detail — from advertising to accounting — done, dusted and managed by the Wilkerson team. “It’s the complete package,” he says of the Wilkerson method of helping jewelers to easily go on to the next phase of their lives. “There’s no way any retailer can duplicate what they’ve done.”