The necklace is featured in the brand’s “Rebel Heart” campaign starring Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo.
Jewelry Crime Increases for First Time Since 2012
The number of crimes reported to the Jewelers Security Alliance rose to 1,245 last year, though John J. Kennedy cautions against making too much of the increase.
According to the report, which was released Friday, the total number of crimes committed against U.S. jewelry firms and reported to the JSA last year was 1,245, compared with 1,177 in 2015.
Dollar losses increased in lockstep, rising from $69.3 million in 2015 to $72.4 million in 2016, an increase of about 5 percent.
There were a total of six industry homicides in 2016--five jewelers and one traveling salesman--up from two in 2015.
The 2016 total includes a triple homicide, which Kennedy noted is very rare.
That crime, which happened just before Christmas at a store in Jackson, Mississippi, claimed the lives of 81-year-old store owner Bill Mosley and two employees, 60-year-old Robert Ivy and 70-year-old Ted McLemore.
(Counted in the JSA’s statistic for jeweler homicides are customers, store employees, police officers, security guards and any other bystanders. Suspects shot in the course of a crime are counted separately, and in 2016, there were five robbers killed by jewelers, up from three in 2015.)
This is the first time since 2012 that the number of jewelry industry crimes reported to the JSA has risen, though Kennedy cautions against making too much of the increase.
The numbers overall still are relatively small, he said, and industry crime remains well below what it was in decades past.
He said small, year-over-year increases happen, with one or two additional bands of smash-and-grab or distraction thieves driving up the number.
“It [the number of crimes] will fluctuate,” Kennedy said. “If it doubled, then I would have to say there’s something going on here that we’re not looking at.”
Outside of credit card fraud--only a fraction of which gets reported to the JSA, Kennedy noted--the most frequent type of crime perpetrated against jewelers last year was grab-and-run thefts.
The number of grab-and-runs rose 40 percent year-over-year, from 301 in 2015 to 420 in 2016, with this crime accounting for 34 percent of all thefts reported to the JSA. (Theft is defined as the taking of property without force or fear.)
The average loss from grab-and-runs was $7,664, with one incident in Colorado resulting in a loss of $118,000 in jewelry.
According to the JSA report, the most common day of the week for grab-and-run thefts was Wednesday and the month in which the most grab-and-run thefts occurred was July.
Other notable statistics from the JSA’s 2016 crime report include the following.
--The number of robberies fell from 231 in 2015 to 174 in 2016, a 25 percent decrease. (Robbery is defined as the taking of property by use of force or fear and includes smash-and-grabs as well as armed robberies.)
--The top three most active states for robberies were California, Florida and Texas, unchanged from 2015. These three states accounted for about 40 percent of all robberies in the country.
--New York fell off the list of most active states for robberies in 2016, and was replaced by Michigan and North Carolina.
--Burglaries were up 12 percent, from 256 to 287. (Burglary is defined as entering a business or residence after closing with the intent to commit a crime.)
--The number of off-premises crimes, which includes attacks on traveling salespeople as well as attacks on jewelers at their homes or other places outside their stores, fell to a total of 48 in 2016, the second-lowest total recorded since the 1980s. Kennedy said this is mostly due to the fact that there are fewer traveling salespeople on the road today.
The Latest
The two organizations will host a joint event, “Converge,” in September 2025.
Big changes appear to be on the horizon for the diamond miner and its parent company, Anglo American.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
Padis succeeds Lisa Bridge, marking the first time the organization has had two women board presidents in a row.
Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment, shared the “five Es” of building a fan base during his AGS Conclave keynote.
The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "John Mayer" was celebrated at a star-studded party in LA last week.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
The announcement came as the company reported a 23 percent drop in production in Q1.
The three-time Pro Bowler continues to partner with the retailer, donating to a Detroit nonprofit and giving watches to fans.
Inspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
The selected nine organizations have outlined their plans for the funds.
The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.
The crown introduced a dozen timepieces in Geneva, including a heavy metal version of its deep-sea divers’ watch.
Emmanuel Raheb recommends digging into demographic data, customizing your store’s communications, and retargeting ahead of May 12.
Located in the town of Queensbury, it features a dedicated bridal section and a Gabriel & Co. store-in-store.
A 203-carat diamond from the alluvial mine in Angola achieved the highest price.
Ruser was known for his figural jewelry with freshwater pearls and for his celebrity clientele.
The “Rebel Heart” campaign embodies rebellion, romance, and sensuality, the brand said.
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares the standout moments from the education sessions she attended in Austin last week.
The overhaul includes a new logo and enhanced digital marketplace.
The money will go toward supporting ongoing research and aftercare programs for childhood cancer survivors.
A new addition to the “Heirloom” collection, this one-of-a-kind piece features 32 custom-cut gemstones.
The move will allow the manufacturing company to offer a more “diverse and comprehensive” range of products.
From now through mid-May, GIA will be offering the reports at a 50 percent discount.
De Beers’ rough diamond sales were down 18 percent year-over-year in its latest round of sales.