Neenah, Wisconsin-Jewelers Mutual Group is asking jewelers to join its “Partner for Protection” movement to combat jewellery crime.
“Partner for Protection is a rallying cry that encourages jewellers to take collective action against crime by remaining vigilant in their jewellery communities and holding themselves accountable to higher standards of security,” the company said.
Jewellers can pledge to join the movement at no cost through the Partner for Protection website.
Members will have access to a digital toolkit that includes a badge, social graphic and in-store signage.
Those who pledge are encouraged to spread the word to their staff, neighbours and the jewellery community.
Jewelers Mutual is doing its part by investing in more loss prevention education, brainstorming with security experts, and enhancing its risk services portfolio to provide greater security for jewellers, their employees and their stores.
According to data compiled by the Jewelers’ Security Alliance and Jewelers Mutual Group, crimes against US jewellery businesses are on the rise, up 14 per cent year-on-year and 50 per cent compared to 2019.
In California, the number of smash-and-grab robberies of jewellery stores tripled in the first quarter of 2022 compared with the same period last year.”What we’re seeing are more high-profile, brazen attacks that happen quickly and result in high-dollar losses,” said Mike Alexander, chief operating officer at Jewelers Mutual.
“The threat is real and it’s affecting the lives and livelihoods of jewellers everywhere. The future of our industry depends on the actions we take today.”
Jewelers Mutual is encouraging the jewellery industry to rethink crime and its security measures.
“It’s not a question of if crime will occur in your store, but when,” said Alexander.
