Please safeguard yourself against crime whenever you’re out traveling with your jewelry.
Whether you’re taking your jewelry to a show, party, shop, or wherever – you may be a target for thieves and thugs.
The Jewelers’ Security Alliance reports a recent upswing in attacks on traveling jewelry salespeople.
Many of these incidents involve groups of thieves in more than one vehicle who follow and isolate a jewelry salesperson who’s driving to a hotel or restaurant.
Then they smash the victim’s car windows, threaten him/her at knifepoint, grab the car keys, and make off with the jewelry.
While these attacks tend to target traveling sales reps carrying lines of fine jewelry, anyone who’s known to be transporting jewelry could become a victim.
Several attacks like these have occurred over the past few weeks, mainly in the central U.S. from Ohio to New Mexico.
Jewelers’ Security Alliance recommends that salespeople traveling with jewelry should be vigilant of other vehicles around them – and also drive evasively before and after sales calls, and before returning home or to a hotel.
(By “drive evasively”, they mean tactics like driving into the parking lot of another business, driving slowly, making left turns and U-turns, driving around the block, etc.).
In addition, because this recent series of jewelry crimes tend to involve knives, please remember that resisting attackers can result in serious injury.
I don’t want to frighten you with this news – but I do want you to be forewarned, vigilant, and extra careful to protect yourself against jewelry crime!
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the reminder. Another thought to consider happened to me. I was taken aback when I mailed a package to a customer when I used my business name in the return address. “Bev’s Jewelry”. The post master casually commented, as he looked at the label, “Oh, sending jewelry huh? Want to insure it?” I took the package back and changed the label to read just Bev Carlson. The person receiving the package might never have received it! This is espeially true in apartment comlexes where packages may be highly visible.
Bev
I have never really given it alot of thought… how much of a target I really am! Thousands of dollars in jewelry and no body guard!:-) Thanks for helping me to be more aware!
Thanks for thinking of our well being!
Thank you for this valuable information. We sometimes forget the little things. We’re glad you’re on our side. Thanks 1,000 times
@Bev Carson: every caution is never enough. you did well. And thanks for sharing your example. many of us are distracted to make those mistakes
I think this is something we all need to be aware of. With the declining economy, crime of all kinds will be on the rise. We should not only be weary if we are a traveling salesman, but if we are a store owner, mother, daughter etc. All crime will increase and as jewelers, we are easy targets in many ways. Most of use wear lots of NICE jewelry and that can be appealing. I mentioned to my wife she needs to be more careful everywhere she goes now, things are bad and will get worse. You will hear more and more about friends and family who will be victims of crime in the coming months/years I am afraid.
I spent many years traveling to craft shows sometimes away up to three weeks. I have a motorhome and was always asked why it wasnt sign writen advertising my business. Sign writing attracts attention I was happy to be seen to be a nobody traveling around the countryside. I wouldnt even put a banner on my motorhome while it was parked at the show for advertising like some. Leaving a large Show Sunday night your been at with several days takings you dont want to be advertising yourself. A lot of sellers still sleep in cars in truck stops and alike which can be dangerous particually if you have a sign wittern vechile. To be safe I found it best not to advertise my business particualy when stopped somewhere while traveling.
This is all very good info to know. One way to learn how to safe guard yourself is to check out a self defense class. A good instructor will give you tips on how to make yourself look like your not a good candidate to rob. So contact your police department for any upcomming classes. There are many things that I’ve learned from a couple of classes I’ve taken. The tip that Julie Adams gave is a very good one. All advertisment isn’t good advertisment. Don’t help the criminals pick you as a victim. Rena’s book “Your Profitable Jewelry Booth” gave some more great tips on safe guarding yourself from thieves.
I think the best piece of info I’ve learned is to be aware of your surroundings and be alert.