The total number of crimes committed against U.S. jewelry firms increased 19.5 percent last year, according to the just-released 2020 annual crime report from the Jewelers’ Security Alliance.
There were 1,718 such crimes in 2020 compared with 1,438 the year before.
At the same time, dollar losses from crimes against U.S. jewelry firms decreased 17.6 percent. Such losses totaled $83.2 million in 2020 versus $101 million in 2019.
“JSA urges all jewelry firm owners and their employees to spend time reading and discussing this Report, examining the serious risks that every jewelry business faces, and taking appropriate steps to reduce risk,” the organization stated. “Jewelry burglaries, robberies and thefts happen everywhere: small towns, big cities, malls, strip centers and free standing stores coast to coast.”
More key findings from the report:
The number of on-premises burglaries increased from 327 in 2019 to 633 in 2020, an increase of 93.6%. In 2020 JSA received reports of 323 burglary incidents involving the looting and civil unrest from May to August totaling $14.3 million. There was also a great deal of property damage not included in that total.
Smash and Grab robberies declined from 130 in 2019 to 96 in 2020. The decline is credited to the work of the FBI and local law enforcement agencies that arrested a major smash and grab robbery crew.
The total dollar losses of off-premises crimes increased from $14.5 million in 2019 to $16.1 million in 2020. In 2019 JSA received only one report of an off-premises crime of over $1 million, compared to five in 2020 with losses of over $1 million each.
Read the full report here.
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Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration
After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years."
Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations.
The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.
