CrimeOct 02, 2020
Tips for Burglary Prevention as Professionals ‘Return to Work’ CrimeDec 17, 2020
Professional Gangs Sent Industry Dollar Losses Soaring in 2019
Overall, though, the number of crimes was essentially flat and for the first time in decades, no industry personnel were murdered while on the job.
New York—The U.S. jewelry industry saw dollar losses from crime almost double last year, driven by a spike in the number of organized, professional gangs pulling off multimillion-dollar burglaries.
According to the annual crime report for 2019 compiled by the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, dollar losses due to crimes against the industry totaled $101 million in 2019, up 89 percent from $53.4 million in 2018.
The last time annual industry losses topped $100 million was 2009, JSA statistics show.
Burglary losses were the biggest contributor to the jump, more than tripling from $11.6 million in 2018 to $40.5 million in 2019.
JSA President John J. Kennedy said a surge in the number of burglary gangs from South America, particularly from Chile, operating in the United States was the main driver behind the spike.
These crews are sophisticated.
They can disable entire electrical systems in jewelry stores—something jewelers were well aware of last year, as JSA sent out a number of alerts about jewelry stores having their power lines cut—knocking out both the alarms and the cameras.
Once inside stores, these gangs can also get into safes, enabling them to essential clean out a store’s entire inventory and make off with millions.
JSA’s report shows that the number of safe attack burglaries more than tripled, increasing from 13 in 2018 to 44 in 2019. The average loss from a safe attack burglary grew from $221,000 to $491,000.
“Most jewelers do not have adequate safes,” Kennedy noted. “The ratings [the safes] have are too low.”
He also pointed out that it doesn’t take a lot of gangs to drive up dollar losses in the jewelry, where the total number of crimes committed against the industry per year—in 2019, 1,438—is relatively low when compared with the overall scope of crime nationwide.
“We’re not talking about huge numbers compared with car thefts or commercial break-ins. You’re talking about a relatively small number of cases,” he said. “A small number of gangs can drive a big increase in dollar losses, and that’s what we had.”
While safe robberies and other high-dollar heists caused losses to soar last year, overall 2019 was not a particularly violent or unsafe year for the U.S. jewelry industry.
The number of crimes committed against the industry was essentially flat year-over-year, 1,441 in 2018 compared with 1,438 in 2019.
And JSA recorded zero homicides of jewelers, which is rare and hasn’t happened in decades.
JSA released its annual crime report for 2019 earlier this month.
Normally published in the fall, pulling it together this year was “particularly challenging” given the disruptions caused by COVID-19, Kennedy said.
Related stories will be right here …
According to the annual crime report for 2019 compiled by the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, dollar losses due to crimes against the industry totaled $101 million in 2019, up 89 percent from $53.4 million in 2018.
The last time annual industry losses topped $100 million was 2009, JSA statistics show.
Burglary losses were the biggest contributor to the jump, more than tripling from $11.6 million in 2018 to $40.5 million in 2019.
JSA President John J. Kennedy said a surge in the number of burglary gangs from South America, particularly from Chile, operating in the United States was the main driver behind the spike.
These crews are sophisticated.
They can disable entire electrical systems in jewelry stores—something jewelers were well aware of last year, as JSA sent out a number of alerts about jewelry stores having their power lines cut—knocking out both the alarms and the cameras.
Once inside stores, these gangs can also get into safes, enabling them to essential clean out a store’s entire inventory and make off with millions.
JSA’s report shows that the number of safe attack burglaries more than tripled, increasing from 13 in 2018 to 44 in 2019. The average loss from a safe attack burglary grew from $221,000 to $491,000.
“Most jewelers do not have adequate safes,” Kennedy noted. “The ratings [the safes] have are too low.”
He also pointed out that it doesn’t take a lot of gangs to drive up dollar losses in the jewelry, where the total number of crimes committed against the industry per year—in 2019, 1,438—is relatively low when compared with the overall scope of crime nationwide.
“We’re not talking about huge numbers compared with car thefts or commercial break-ins. You’re talking about a relatively small number of cases,” he said. “A small number of gangs can drive a big increase in dollar losses, and that’s what we had.”
While safe robberies and other high-dollar heists caused losses to soar last year, overall 2019 was not a particularly violent or unsafe year for the U.S. jewelry industry.
The number of crimes committed against the industry was essentially flat year-over-year, 1,441 in 2018 compared with 1,438 in 2019.
And JSA recorded zero homicides of jewelers, which is rare and hasn’t happened in decades.
JSA released its annual crime report for 2019 earlier this month.
Normally published in the fall, pulling it together this year was “particularly challenging” given the disruptions caused by COVID-19, Kennedy said.
JSA Senior Crime Analyst Ryan Ruddock and Vice President Scott Guginsky authored the report.
Other highlights include the following.
— Smash-and-grab robberies also contributed to the spike in dollar losses, Kennedy said, as jewelers stand to lose a lot when criminals begin destroying showcases full of product.
The number of smash-and-grabs was essentially flat year-over-year, 129 in 2018 vs. 130 in 2019. Nearly half of them (59) happened at mall jewelry stores.
— While there were no homicides of jewelry industry personnel on the job in 2019, one customer, two bystanders and three robbers were killed.
— The number of three-minute burglaries (so named because that’s how long they take to commit) increased 11 percent year-over-year, from 134 to 148, with the average loss from these incidences rising from $21,000 to $27,000.
B3Ms usually happen in the middle of the night by smashing through a glass front door or window of a store.
— The number of grab-and-run thefts was down slightly year-over-year, slipping 4 percent from 641 to 616. While the average loss from a grab-and-run is around $10,000, there was one in Washington state that cost a jeweler $183,000.
Grab-and-runs made up the bulk (72 percent) of all thefts in 2019.
— JSA received one report of a major trade show loss, $400,000 at a trade show held in Los Angeles in January of last year.
Looking ahead to 2021, Kennedy said he expects little activity in the first part of the year as people stay home to weather another wave of COVID-19 and stores potentially are forced to closed again.
“I can’t predict the future but if I were to look into my crystal ball, I would say in the first part of the year, it’s going to be quiet again,” he said.
But he expects that to change in the back half of the year, as criminals who have been dormant for months will be in need of money.
“If ‘19 was any harbinger, we can say that 2021 might [bring] very significant losses,” Kennedy said.
“Jewelers should be very careful to make sure their alarm systems work. They should test them and they should make sure their whole premises is covered.”
A copy of the entire report is available on the JSA website.
The Latest
MajorsApr 07, 2026
QVC Group’s Latest Filing Calls Its Future Into QuestionThe retailer failed to file its annual report on time and said it may issue a going concern warning.
ColumnistsApr 07, 2026
Peter Smith: A Tip to the Post Office on Workplace CultureSmith recounts a recent trip to the post office that included an uncomfortable, embarrassing, and public exchange between two employees.
GradingApr 07, 2026
GIA CFO David Tearle to Retire in June John Cowley, who has more than 30 years of experience, is succeeding Tearle as the lab’s chief financial officer.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
CollectionsApr 07, 2026
Nerd Out Over Gemology Geek’s First Jewelry CollectionFounder Erica Silverglide has designed 35 colorful pieces set with fluorescing gemstones for the brand's first finished jewelry offering.
Weekly QuizApr 02, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsApr 07, 2026
Ukrainian Jewelers Highlighted In New Book“Ukrainian Jewelry | Contemporary Jewelry and Art Jewelry from Ukraine” features 33 contemporary Ukrainian designers and studios.
CollectionsApr 06, 2026
Fope’s New Jewelry Debuts Are Golden“The Golden Now” campaign celebrates the here and now with the brand’s signature styles and a selection of its new pieces.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
MajorsApr 06, 2026
Kecia Caffie, Corinne Bentzen No Longer With Signet JewelersSignet confirmed that Caffie, president of Zales and Banter, and Bentzen, who headed Blue Nile, have left the company.
CollectionsApr 06, 2026
Historian Tanzy Ward Pens Book on Black Victorians’ JewelryThe antique jewelry dealer talks about the importance of including Black Americans in jewelry history and preserving their stories.
SourcingApr 06, 2026
Gemfields Reports $51M Loss in 2025Both its mines faced challenges last year, from operational issues to disruptions in the market.
CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Taylor Swift’s ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ Video Puts Jewelry Front and CenterIconic pieces, like the Mike Todd Diamond Tiara, appear in the superstar’s new music video for her song inspired by the actress.
MajorsApr 03, 2026
Saks Global Says It Will Emerge From Bankruptcy This SummerThe luxury retailer, which went Chapter 11 in January, announced Thursday that it has secured $500 million in exit financing.
Events & AwardsApr 03, 2026
JCK Luxury, NouvelleBox Partner on New Designer BallroomThe NouvelleBox ballroom will feature independent jewelry designers, including Lene Vibe, Wyld Box Jewelry, and Kiaia Limited.
CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Buddha Mama Brings Its ‘Moon’ Locket To DallasThe one-of-a-kind locket, our Piece of the Week, opens to reveal three hidden images to keep close to your heart.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New Canadian Distribution Center Amid Tariff ConcernsThe new facility was also designed to better serve its growing customer base in Canada.
TrendsApr 02, 2026
Michelle Yeoh Fronts New Mikimoto Campaign The campaign is a tribute to the year 1893, when Kokichi Mikimoto created the world’s first cultured pearl.
GradingApr 02, 2026
GIA Debuts New Campus in TaiwanIt is the only GIA school to offer the GIA Graduate Gemologist program in Chinese.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
DCA Launches ‘Second Spark’ Workforce InitiativeThe initiative connects veterans and parents returning to the workforce with careers in jewelry retail.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Hoover & Strong Names New National Sales RepresentativeThe wholesale manufacturer and precious metals refiner has appointed Michael Angelo as its new national sales representative.
MajorsApr 01, 2026
Foundrae Sues Pandora for Allegedly Copying Its Medallion DesignsFoundrae also accused the jewelry giant of copying its mood board style of marketing.
AuctionsApr 01, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Heads to AuctionA Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece owned by the American businessman who died on the Titanic will be offered at Freeman's Chicago.
SurveysApr 01, 2026
Consumers’ Outlook Improves Again in MarchThe Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index edged up, with optimism about the present outweighing worries about the future.
IndependentsApr 01, 2026
Zachary’s Jewelers’ Constance Polamalu to Release Children’s BookThe retailer’s Zach Bear gift comes to life in “Zach Bear and the Window Necklace,” which centers on curiosity, bravery, and helping.
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2026
AGA Opens 2026 Gemological Scholarship, Research Grant ApplicationsApplications are open for the AGA Gemological Scholarship Program through May 15, and until June 2027 for the Gemological Research Grant.
ColumnistsMar 31, 2026
Q1 Clues That Reveal Where Your Jewelry Store’s Sales Are Heading These customer behavior patterns say a lot about how successful your jewelry store is going to be this year, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Mejuri Adds Silver to ‘Puzzle’ CollectionMejuri’s popular collection of 18-karat yellow gold vermeil rings debuted in sterling silver alongside new “Puzzle” slider charms.
