Jewelers Security Alliance

SUSPECT RUNS WITH LOOSE DIAMOND
Denver, Colorado – July 6, 2010
An Hispanic male suspect asked to see a loose marquise diamond in a mall retail jewelry chain store. After briefly examining the stone, he took it and ran from the store. The suspect is described as in his 20s, 5’10”, with a heavy build. He was reported fleeing in a black Chevrolet Monte Carlo with Colorado plates. Anyone with information is asked to call the Denver Police Department at 720-913-2000. See a surveillance video of the crime on the upper right.


JEWELRY CRIME VIDEOS
	Denver, CO July 6, 2010
	Bowling Green, KY June 3, 2010

SUSPECT REACHES INTO DISPLAY CASE AND TAKES DIAMOND RINGS
Bowling Green, KY – June 3, 2010
Just after 10:00 a.m. a black male suspect entered a retail jewelry store. While employees were not looking, the suspect reached into a display case and took three diamond rings valued at almost $25,000. The suspect is described as heavy-set, bald, 40s, wearing designer black frame glasses and having bushy eyebrows. He was wearing a ring on left little finger. See a surveillance video of this crime above.

SUSPECT IN CREDIT CARD FRAUD

The Spring Township (PA) Police Department is attempting to identify the suspect pictured above in connection with the use of fraudulent credit card to purchase a high-end watch in Spring Township on May 19, 2010. The suspect is reported to have used a fictitious PA driver’s license. Anyone who can identify the suspect is asked to contact Detective Dennis Riegel of the Spring Township Police Department at
610-678-3431.

ARRESTS AND CONVICTIONS

FRONT PAGE CRIME HEADLINES

GRAB AND RUN SUSPECT ARRESTED
Elkton, MD - June 7, 2010
Jonathan Wesley Wiseman, 27,a suspect wanted in connection with numerous grab and run thefts, was taken into custody on 06/07/10 by local police and FBI agents in Elkton, MD. Wiseman is suspected of carrying out nine grab and run crimes at retail jewelry stores in DE, NJ and PA over several recent weeks. Wiseman was featured in a JSA Email Crime Alert dated 6/17/10, in a Special JSA Alert dated 6/18/10, and was pictured on the homepage of JSA's website.

GOLD SWITCH SUSPECT ARRESTED
Clifton, NJ - July 6, 2010
On July 6, 2010 James F. Hill was taken into custody by the Clifton NJ Police Department with the assistance of the U.S. Marshalls Passaic/Morris Fugitive Task Force, and taken to the Passaic County Jail. Hill was wanted for numerous gold switch thefts in NJ, and is wanted for diamond switches in other states. Additional information can be obtained from Detective Rob Anderson of the Clifton Police Department at 973-470-5908. Hill was the subject of a JSA Email Crime Alert dated May 26, 2010, and was pictured on the homepage of JSA's website.

GRAB AND RUN THIEF IN GREEN HOSPITAL SCRUBS
Beaumont, TX – June 21, 2010
At 3:30 p.m. a suspect dressed in green hospital scrubs asked to see a particular high-end watch in a retail jewelry store. He was trying on two of them, and when the sales associate placed the first watch on the counter and began helping the man with the second watch, he grabbed both and ran out of the store. He fled in a white, four-door vehicle.
RECOMMENDATION: Show only one item at a time. Also, be on alert for suspects in distinctive clothing and uniforms that the suspects may be using to encourage confidence and to cause a sales associate to lower his or her guard.

GRAB AND RUN SUSPECT WITH TATTOO ON NECK
Madison, WI – July 1, 2010
A black female and two black males entered a retail jewelry store at 1:00 p.m. They first looked at men’s gold rings and then moved to men’s gold chains. After questions and price discussions, two suspects left the store. The third suspect asked to see the chain and asked to take a picture with his camera phone. After the picture was taken, the third suspect also left the store. A few minutes later this third suspect returned to the store and asked to see the chain again. When the chain was handed to him, he ran from the store. Suspect #1 was a black female, 5’6”, 120 lbs, late teens to early 20s, medium length hair. Suspect #2 was a black male, 5’9” to 5’ 11”, medium build, 170 lbs., late teens to early twenties. Suspect #3 was a black male, 5’ 10”, 6’ 0”, thin build, 160 lbs., early 20s, and with a tattoo of two words on the right side of his neck, one word on top of the other in cursive writing.

ROBBERY OF RETAIL JEWELER BY MAN DRESSED AS A WOMAN
Charlotte, NC – June 11, 2010
At 11:00 a.m. two suspects, one armed with a handgun, entered a retail jewelry store in a shopping center. The owner of the store was handcuffed, but was otherwise not injured. The suspects were described as black males between the ages of 20 and 22. One of the two suspects was a man dressed in women’s clothing with a reddish blonde wig and makeup. The other suspect was described as 5’6”, 170 lbs. with short hair and wearing a white tee shirt.
RECOMMENDATION: Criminals use an endless variety of methods to conceal their identity, ranging from cross-dressing to the use of sunglasses, caps, hoodies, wigs, fake mustaches and beards and motorcycle helmets. Jewelers need to ask themselves, “Is that person entering my store trying to conceal his or her identity?” If a crime incident has not yet started, the use of a code word to warn the store staff that there is a risk situation can be useful, and perhaps having a staff member walk out of the store visibly holding a cell phone.

BURGLARS SMASH TRUCK INTO JEWELRY STORE
Edinburgh, IN – July 2, 2010
Burglars tried, but failed, to crash into a retail jewelry store with a car, and then located a truck and drove it through the store’s front doors. The burglars then took a significant amount of jewelry.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Additional security from burglary can be provided by having heavy cement decorative planters or other barriers in front of a retail jewelry store in order to prevent a vehicle from being used to ram inside. All goods need to be put away at night to discourage attacks.

SUMMARY OF TRAVELING SALESPERSON CASES
SALESPERSON ROBBED IN RESTAURANT PARKING LOT Wichita, KS – June 17, 2010 A traveling jewelry salesperson was leaving a restaurant with his line at 9:15 p.m. As he approached his car, another vehicle pulled up and two men jumped out. The salesperson started to run back to the restaurant with his line, but he tripped and fell. One of the suspects held him down at knifepoint, while the other suspect grabbed the line bag. The suspects then ran back to their car and the suspect with the knife punctured a tire of the salesperson’s car. RECOMMENDATION: Whether in Manhattan, LA, Miami or even Wichita, traveling salesperson are always at risk. Salespersons must follow strict security procedures at all times, including using evasive driving techniques, storing the line overnight in retail jewelry stores, and keeping their activities and visibility on the street to a minimum outside of work hours.		TRAVELING SALESPERSONS ROBBED AT GAS STATION South San Francisco, CA – July 1, 2010 After a day of business calls, two watch salespersons in a rental car stopped for gas prior to returning the car. While one was pumping gas, a silver Dodge Caravan with four male Hispanics stopped near the salespersons’ car. One male Hispanic threatened the salespersons with a hypodermic syringe while another suspect smashed a rear window and took two laptop bags which contained no jewelry. Suspects then slashed he salespersons’ rear tire. The event was captured on surveillance video and was witnessed by 10-15 people. Anyone with information is asked to call the South San Francisco Police Department at 650-877-8900. RECOMMENDATION: Even when salespersons are traveling without merchandise, but visiting jewelry premises, the need for the highest vigilance and the use of evasive driving techniques is essential. The South American gangs assume all bags in the possession of salespersons contain merchandise. This case featured the rare use of a hypodermic syringe by these gangs. The gangs are reducing the use of guns, and now often use knives and other weapons in order to avoid stringent gun laws.
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