Crime Groups Target US Refineries and Jewelers for Gold

(IDEX Online) - Organized crime groups are targeting gold refineries and other businesses in the US that consolidate scrap gold, according to a report jointly prepared by the FBI and the Jewelers' Security Alliance (JSA).

They say South American Theft Groups (SATGs) - predominantly from Chile and Venezuela - are becoming more active with the surge in prices of precious metals in general, and gold in particular.

The report, published on 2 April, warns that they are targeting gold refineries in New York and New Jersey, as well as jewelry stores across major US metropolitan areas.

"They conduct detailed surveillance inside and outside targeted businesses during regular operating hours, often only days before a planned burglary, and typically burgle on holidays or weekends and late at night or early in the morning," it says.

The SATG members are often disguised as construction workers and target stores in malls and shopping centers.

They often use signal jammers to disable alarms and Wi-Fi. And they use specialized tools and knowledge of building layouts to cut through walls or roofs, bypassing front windows to access display cases, vaults, and secure back-room areas.

The report details precautions business owners can take, including recommendations on types of safe and surveillance cameras.

And identifies a series of "pre-incident indicators" which could warn of imminent attack:  

• Individuals loiter inside or outside the facility - including near interior corridors, loading docks, or parking areas during business hours - and appear to take notes, record video, or photograph the building, equipment, or staff

• Individuals pose as construction workers or contractors - wearing hard hats and reflective vests - without prior scheduling or proper identification

• Individuals attempt to access restricted areas, including doors, stairwells, or service corridors not open to the public

• Interior or exterior security cameras appear moved, blocked, or altered, reducing visibility of key areas in the facility

• Unexplained power or communication outages, including signs of tampering with power lines or electrical junction boxes that could disable alarm systems and security cameras

• Facility alarms trigger without visible disruption.

Read the full report here.

The report was prepared by the FBI's Criminal Division and Newark Field Office, in coordination with the Jewelers' Security Alliance (JSA) and the FBI's Office of Private Sector (OPS).