Basic Security Recommendations When Carrying Jewelry Off-Premises
1. Never resist in a robbery. There are many instances of salespersons being punched, kicked, stabbed or knocked to the ground, sending the injured salesperson to the hospital.

2. Jewelry merchandise left in an unattended vehicle is an easy target for gangs and often means that there will be no insurance coverage. DO NOT LEAVE GOODS IN AN UNATTENDED VEHICLE. Do not leave jewelry merchandise in the trunk or on the seat of your car, even for a minute, when you run into a store or go on an errand.

3. Many off-premises robberies of traveling salespersons occur in parking lots, often when going to or from hotels, where they have been followed after making sales calls. Sometimes the sales calls were made on the previous day and the salespersons were not hit until the next morning after they have left the hotel. SALESPERSONS MUST TAKE EVASIVE DRIVING ACTION AFTER EVERY SALES CALL, AND BEFORE RETURNING TO THEIR HOTEL, HOME OR OFFICE.

4. Salespersons must try to see if they are being followed by using such evasive driving tactics as driving very slowly, by driving around the block, by making u-turns or pulling into a bank or fast food parking lot. Are one or more cars following you?

5. If you are being followed, call 911 and say “I am about to be the victim of an armed robbery.” and if possible make your call obvious to the suspicious persons. When criminals see you using your cell phone after you have spotted them, they are less likely to pursue you because they may fear you have called the police.

6. Don’t fall for distractions. If someone approaches you for change or directions, consider yourself a crime target and move on swiftly.

7. If you experience trouble with your car trunk lock, door lock or ignition key, or have a flat tire, radiator trouble or are bumped by another car, consider yourself a crime target. Immediately get yourself to a place of safety.

8. South American gangs watch retail jewelry locations. When you arrive at a location carrying jewelry, drive around the area and look for suspicious groups of males who may be sitting in nearby vehicles. Park as close to the main entrance to your destination as possible, and do not enter or exit by a rear or secluded entrance.

9. Jewelers should not take valuable jewelry merchandise to their homes.

10. Whether riding in a taxi, shuttle bus, or by any means of transportation, keep all jewelry merchandise with you, not in the trunk of the taxi or storage compartment of the bus or van.

11. Even if you are not carrying jewelry merchandise, if you are visiting jewelry premises and are carrying a bag of any sort, you are a target. The criminals that stake out jewelry premises may mistake the bag you are carrying, whether an attaché case or your gym clothes, for a bag containing jewelry merchandise. When you can avoid carrying a bag of any sort, do so.

12. Gangs have been known to place GPS devices on the autos of salespersons. There are electronic devices available to detect the presence of GPS devices. Salespersons should also inspect underneath their vehicle from time to time.

SECURITY FOR JEWELERS AT HOME
1. CASING. Attacks on jewelers’ homes are preceded by some form of casing, in which the criminals follow a jeweler, stake out his home or business, and try to find out information about him, his patterns and his family. All jewelers should be careful at all times to see if they are being watched or followed. Are people sitting in a car near your home or business for too long? Is a car following you when you leave the store? Do you have suspicious phone calls or suspicious “customers” visiting your store? The best opportunity for stopping a home invasion is to spot suspects during the casing period and to call the police.

2. VARY ROUTE. Vary your route and time of travel to and from work. Be alert to people
following or watching you. To determine if you are being followed, drive very slowly and observe if any vehicles are hanging back and unwilling to pass you.

3. PHYSICAL SECURITY AT HOME. Security features should be a very important factor in selecting the residence in which you choose to live. Jewelers should evaluate such issues as a dead-end vs. heavily traveled street, the closeness of neighbors, and the garage or parking set-up. Other issues of physical security must also be given careful consideration, such as having proper locks, an alarm system and good lighting. There are jewelers who highly recommend a dog at home for warning and protection.

4. SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT LOGBOOK. Many jewelers have found it helpful to keep a suspicious incident logbook at their business premises in which all employees can record things that appear to be “not quite right.” This should also be done at home. The log can be used to write down details such as license plate numbers, names used, time, physical description and other information regarding suspicious incidents that may later be helpful to police.

5. TRAINING FAMILY MEMBERS. Even the youngest family member in your household needs some instruction about the dangers of the jewelry business and how they must cooperate. Family members should be trained not to give out information on the phone, not to open the door to unknown people, to be extremely careful regarding delivery personnel, and to be alert for suspicious people watching the house. Even temporary visitors, such as an in-law or babysitter, need specific instructions.

6. NO LARGE SAFE OR JEWELRY MERCHANDISE AT HOME. Never keep jewelry merchandise or a large safe at home. Personal jewelry may be kept in a small, concealed safe in a floor or wall. Consider keeping valuable personal
jewelry in a bank safe deposit box when not being used.

7. TRUSTED NEIGHBORS. Whether near your home or business, trusted neighbors can provide additional eyes for spotting suspicious behavior by those casing you. Discuss with trusted neighbors your special risks as a
jeweler and enlist their help.

8. HOUSEHOLD HELP. Every household worker who comes into your home puts you at a greater risk. Cleaning ladies, lawn help, babysitters, painting and remodeling people, and a long list of workers with access and knowledge of your household all pose some risk. Even if they are honest themselves, they may have boyfriends, spouses, relatives or friends who are criminals, or they may unintentionally provide information to those who then target you. You must screen, monitor and supervise all household help very carefully. In the case of a nanny or someone with close contact with your household, or in the case of someone who lives with you, a background investigation of that person is suggested.

9. TELEPHONE. Have an unlisted and unpublished home phone number. Keep a charged cell phone with you at all times, including at your beside at night.

10. SOCIAL NETWORKS. Do not put personal information about your home, family members
and such things as vacations on social networking sites.

11. CAR PANIC ALARM. Some jewelers keep their car keys next to their bed so that they can hit the remote panic alarm of their car to help scare off intruders at the first hint of trouble.

12. ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. Before any problem develops, contact your local police department and get to know someone in a supervisory position. Explain to the supervisor or chief the special crime risks of jewelers so that if you do have a problem, you will be calling someone you know.

13. SECURITY CODE PHRASE. Jewelers should consider having a family security code phrase that can be used to alert a family member on the phone to a crime problem. The code phrase must not raise the suspicions of criminals holding the jewelry or family hostage.

Assume criminal gangs will use any means, including violence, to carry out a home
invasion and robbery. If a jeweler is a victim of a kidnapping/robbery, the jeweler and
family members and others involved should cooperate fully with the criminals or risk
violence.