The 2021 Annual Crime Report published by the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, a nonprofit trade organization, is a free downloadable report that we all need to read. At least, everyone who is involved with Jewelry or precious metals should download and read it. It reveals, in depth, exactly where jewelry-related crimes are taking place. Also, it explains how many of those crimes are happening, and whether those crimes are becoming more or less frequent.
Here Are Just a Few Statistics You Will Find in the Report
Jewelry theft is a big business. The dollar losses from crimes against U.S. jewelry firms reported by JSA for the 20-year period 2002 to 2021 totaled $2.2 billion.
Covid may have caused a drop in crime. The number of crimes committed against U.S. jewelry firms in 2021 was 1,687, a decrease from 1,718 in 2020. But the number of crimes in 2021 represented an increase of 17.3% from 2019, pre-Covid, when there were 1438 crimes.
“Grab & Run” thefts in jewelry stores are on the rise. Thefts increased from 581 in 2020 to 842 in 2021, an increase of 44.9%.
“Smash & grab” thefts, in which thieves smash display cases and steal their contents, remain common. There were 85 smash & grab robberies in 2021, of which 54 were in malls and 12 in strip mall locations.
Burglaries of jewelry stores declined during the pandemic. The report finds that the number of on-premises burglaries declined from 633 in 2020 to 311 in 2021. Of the 311 burglaries reported in 2021, 150 were in malls, including mall kiosks. And the average loss from the burglary of a safe increased from $287,000 in 2020 to $639,000 in 2021.
Most jewelry is stolen from inside jewelry stores. In 2021, $57 million worth of jewelry was stolen from inside stores. Only $13.1 worth of jewelry was stolen when it was outside stores, such as being transported.
The most likely states for thefts to occur is California, where 21.2% of thefts occur. That is followed by Texas (12.7%), North Carolina (6.3%), and New York (5.8%).
Not all jewelry thefts involve firearms. In 2021, only 30.7% of thefts involved the use of a firearm, and 18.5% involved other forms of violence.
The majority of “Smash & Grab” thefts take place in December. And the fewest take place in August.
Why Are We Sharing these Statistics with You?
First, we want you to be safe. Even if you do not own a jewelry store, those statistics demonstrate that the gold, silver, platinum and other forms of precious scrap you own are highly desirable to thieves. So do all you can to protect what you own.
Second, we would like to encourage you to do everything you can to avoid buying stolen property. When thieves steal gold, silver, or platinum, they are going to want to sell it to someone. Just make sure that “someone” isn’t you. So, buy from known, established, and reputable individuals and businesses.
Owning stolen property can be complicated and costly. If you learn or suspect that you have purchased it, call the police immediately. After conducting an investigation that determines that the property is in fact “hot,” they will ask you to turn the items over to them. At that point, you may have to sue the person who sold you the items to recover the money you paid for them.
So clearly, it is easiest to avoid buying items of stolen jewelry or precious metals.
And when you find that you own precious metal items that were not stolen, give our precious metal consultants a call at 800-426-2344. We will tell you exactly how to recycle your precious metal scrap for top dollar . . . honestly!
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