JSA Figures Show Crime Against Jewelry Industry -15%

(IDEX Online News) – The Jewelers Security Alliance (JSA) released its 2015 Annual Crime Report, which showed that crimes against the jewelry industry dropped to 1,177 incidents compared to 1,381 in 2014 – a decrease of 14.7 percent.

Total dollar losses also showed a decline, falling $69.3 million compared to $77.8 million in the previous year – which represents a 10.9-percent drop.

The report also said that the FBI and local law enforcement agencies arrested two major smash and grab robbery gangs in the first half of the year. As a result, the number of smash and grab robberies in the second half of the year fell by a half. Overall, there were 72 reported smash and grab robberies during the year compared to 110 in 2014.

The FBI and local law enforcement agencies were also responsible for the arrest of a major rooftop burglary gang. Due to these efforts, burglaries from rooftop entries declined from 36 in 2014 to 19 last year.

There were two fatalities from crimes against jewelry businesses, down from three in 2014. The number of non-fatal gunshot wounds declined from 15 in 2014 to 3 in 2015 – an 80-percent drop.

“While the diamond, jewelry and watch industry is still a dangerous business, nevertheless, the long term trend in jewelry crime is still firmly down,” said JSA president John Kennedy.

“The significant decline that JSA has seen in crime is due to the greater sharing of crime information within the industry and with law enforcement, and from the terrific cooperation that the industry receives from the FBI and local law enforcement agencies.”