The Jewelers’ Security Alliance (JSA) has released its 2017 Annual Crime Report, showing that crime against the jewelry industry in the US has decreased in total dollar value, but that the number of crimes has increased.
According to the JSA, total dollar losses decreased 0.4% year-on-year to $72.1 million in 2017, while the total number of crimes against the industry increased 12% year-on-year to 1,394 in 2017.
Some highlights of the report include: Smash and grab robberies increased to 71 in 2017 – an increase of 14.5%; over 50% of smash and grab robberies occurred in mall locations. Grab and run thefts increased 32.4% to 556 in 2017; off-premises crimes, including traveling salesperson losses, fell to 39 in 2017 – the lowest total in over 20 years; average loss from cyber-enabled thefts by deception and impersonation was over $1.2 million. Finally, there were five homicides of jewelers in 2017, compared to six homicides in 2016.
