Jewelers, Watch Your Walls
May 29, 25
Raiders escaped with watches and jewelry worth at least $10m from the Love Jewels store in downtown Los Angeles in April. That was after they'd spent weeks tunneling their way through 3ft thick concrete, from an empty theater building next door.
They struck over a weekend, and it was only when staff arrived for work on Monday morning that they found the safes empty, and the alarms and cameras disabled
In August 2024 a gang broke into Marquise Jewelers, at a mall in Schaumburg, Illinois. They forced the back door of a Sbarro restaurant, broke through a dividing wall into an empty unit next door, then broke through another wall into the jewelry store.
In August 2024 a gang broke into Marquise Jewelers, at a mall in Schaumburg, Illinois. They forced the back door of a Sbarro restaurant, broke through a dividing wall into an empty unit next door, then broke through another wall into the jewelry store.
They then emptied display cases of goods worth at least $1.5m. The break-in was only discovered the following morning.
These are not isolated incidents. Last year there were 53 such crimes - known as "wall-entry burglaries" - carried out against jewelry businesses, according to the Jewelers' Security Alliance's (JSA) annual crime report for 2024. That's an increase from 20 in 2023.
Only last month raiders burst through the wall of Ramallah Jewelry in Oak Lawn, also Illinois. In this incident they attacked the owner and fled with gold necklaces and bracelets and loose jewelry. They'd broken into vacant premises next door, removed a layer of a dry wall dividing the two properties and had been lying in wait.
The number of crimes against jewelers fell overall by over 12 per cent last year (down from 1,621 to 1,420) but the total dollar losses were up 7 per cent (from $133m to $142m).
And the reason is simple: Criminals are becoming more sophisticated. They're investing more time and effort in heists that require more planning, preparation, and knowledge - but that offer bigger rewards.
Smash and grab robberies rely on brute force and the element of surprise. Gangs typically armed with hammers or crowbars smash display cases, take what they can and flee. The number of smash and grabs actually fell last year, as the number of wall-entries rose.
Burglars who break through walls are rarely disturbed. They'll generally disable alarm systems or use Wi-Fi jammers to prevent them from sending alerts. Time is on their side.
They break through roofs as well as walls. Last May, raiders broke through the roof of Desire Jewelry, in Glendora, California. They then spent six hours, undisturbed, drilling their way into two safes and escaping with jewelry, diamonds, gold and cash valued at $800,000.
In another incident raiders stole $400,000 of merchandise from Certified Jewelry Design, in Longwood, Florida. They scaled the building, crawled through the attic, then cut through a reinforced wall to reach the vault.
Many such raids - through walls or ceilings - are the work of South American Theft Groups (SATGs), according to the JSA. These SATGs are "crime tourists" typically from Chile or Colombia who are in the US illegally. They're known for using advanced surveillance and tracking technologies. The goods they steal are either shipped back to their home countries or sold in the US.
"The crime category that experienced the greatest dollar losses in 2024 was on-premises burglaries," says the JSA.
"In 2024, JSA observed a significant increase in the severity of losses from sophisticated burglaries (via the rooftop or a common wall)perpetrated by highly mobile South American Theft Groups (SATGs).
"They also include safe or vault attacks, subjects engaged in organized ruses such as wearing construction vests, the use of construction-grade tools, as well as incidents of power cuts or tampering, and the use of technology such as Wi-Fi jammers."
The message to the jewelry industry is clear. Be prepared. Be vigilant. Here's a summary of JSA advice:
1. Keep alarm company call lists current with 24/7 store representative availability.
2. Always respond promptly to alarms; never enter alone—wait for police.
3. Remove all merchandise from showcases at night, including low-end items, to prevent break-ins and minimize losses.
4. Regularly check junction boxes; unexplained power or phone outages are warning signs of tampering.
5. Ensure alarm systems have adequate line security and are tested regularly.
6. Confirm alarm protection covers all entry points: roof, side walls, doors, and windows.
7. Inspect all possible entry points, including roof and neighboring premises, not just ground floor doors and windows.
8. Avoid placing safes against outside or neighboring walls vulnerable to break-ins.
9. Use TRTL 30x6 rated safes, as lower-rated safes are easily breached with common tools.
10. Be extra cautious if neighboring businesses are vacant, as they increase burglary risk.
11. Watch for suspicious individuals dressed as construction workers, especially if no construction is scheduled.
Have a fabulous weekend.