10 Safety Tips for Jewelers Ahead of Election Day

Leave them uncovered to show that the case is empty and encourage robbers to move along, something JSA always advises jewelers to do.

“By having a contingency plan to get all inventory safely secured, the store will be less of a target,” said Berkley Asset Protection.

Don’t forget about inventory records.

Move inventory records offsite or keep a backup in a cloud-based system, as they can be difficult to recreate.

Having the records on-hand also makes it easier to file a claim if there is any loss.

Keep in touch with the local authorities.

The company advised paying close attention to communications from local police departments.

Heed any warnings of a possible event and abide by the advice given. Have a direct line to local law enforcement saved on your phone and your employees’ phones.

“We saw incidents this summer where unrest flared up in the afternoon. Being caught by surprise, some jewelers did not have the proper amount of time to close their store and secure goods,” Berkley said.

Be mindful of local news as well to see if there is unrest in nearby areas.

Make it clear there is no jewelry inside the store.

If a storefront is boarded up, consider writing “No Jewelry Onsite” on the boards.

While jewelry stores are always a target, signage outside may dissuade people from breaking into the store.

Close before the evening comes.

Jewelers should consider operating with reduced hours so the store can be closed before the evening.

“The important thing is having a pulse of the local community and potential triggers to unrest, especially in larger metro areas,” Berkley said.

If the store alarm goes off, wait for the police before visiting the store.

Several instances of video surveillance show that jewelry store break-ins can happen in waves, said the company.

“The last thing you want to face is entering the store, which appears empty, to then be confronted with another wave of rioters.”

Value safety over property.

Do not sleep in your store or attempt to defend it in any way, said Berkeley Asset Protection.

Once the store is boarded up and the merchandise has been moved to a safe place, focus on personal safety.

Be sure security cameras are working properly.

It’s important to have working cameras, but also to have them set up in the right places, like near cash registers, on expensive showcases and at exterior doors.

Be sure they’re at the proper height to capture a person’s face.

Have a system in place that stores the images for at least 30 days that is backed up to the cloud or another system off the premises.

Keep employees in the know.

Jewelers need to have a plan of action for last-minute situations. Staff should be briefed on what to do in case of an emergency.

Go through the store’s security protocol on a regular basis so staff know what to do in the event of a real-life situation.

For more information about store safety, visit Berkley Asset Protection’s website.