It’s bad news for our industry that crime targeted at jewellery stores seems to be on the increase again. Stores are especially vulnerable around opening and closing times, when keys are being handled and merchandise may be boxed up and easily carried away. Below are a few tips to help our valued clients stay safe.
General Security tips:
- Always be alert and vigilant
- Test all electronic systems and equipment and confirm that your security company is receiving signals from your alarm system via all available channels (radio, phone lines etc)
- Obtain specialist advice before installing two locking doors on either side of a vestibule. Armed robbers who are trapped may be more likely to shoot their way out.
- Attend to any repairs on perimeter security gates or burglar bars and on all electronic surveillance and alarm systems.
- Train and retrain staff in your security protocols and in how to identify casing, as some degree of surveillance precedes most crime. Some guidelines on this may be found here
Opening & Closing Protocols
These duties should be conducted by at least two people, with one watching from a safe distance and with a phone and panic button in-hand. Observe the surroundings of the store on arrival. If anything seems suspicious or out of place, stay out of sight and call police. The entry point to the store must be well lit and where possible, any obstructions to visibility or any potential hiding places for an ambush should be removed. The key carrier should consider taking different routes to and from work and home. It’s advisable to do a thorough sweep of the premises to establish an all-clear before all staff enter in the morning, and at night before the store is locked up. Those not engaged in checking the premises should be waiting outside, on alert and ready to call security if a problem arises. Some security companies recommend that the key carrier immediately lock themself in and proceed to retrieve and unpack jewellery from the safe alone. Be highly suspicious of ‘customers’ arriving as the store opens or closes, and keep the doors locked while staff set up. Refuse entry to any unknown person until the store is ready to receive customers, deliveries included. After a long day, staff may be tempted to start putting items away before all customers have left the store in an effort to speed up the closing procedure. This is a mistake as lots of merchandise being shifted between safes and showcases is an opportune time for thieves to strike and can give casers valuable information about your procedures.
Preventative measures and preparation
It’s recommended to make some security cameras obvious (so would-be crooks know they’re being watched) and others concealed. Consider having a second recorder or storing the video remotely, so a thief can’t take the device and rob you of evidence as well. Height markers can be placed on any vertical surface that your surveillance cameras have a clear view of. They can be subtle and tailored to match the decor for aesthetic purposes (or to not tip off a criminal who may then slouch or duck past them), or they can be obvious – for example on your shop window. Just by peering in, casers may feel like they’ve already given away too much information about themselves, and this might just be enough to deter a robbery.
Establish a High-Alert Code Word
A word or phrase that warns of a suspicious situation can be a life-saving addition to your security arsenal. Something as simple as: “that display cabinet needs cleaning” should cue a staff member to secretly contact your security company. You could even have a second phrase that prompts a more serious reaction, for example most staff discretely vacating the premises and perhaps activating a silent panic alarm.
In the event of an armed robbery
SAPS recommend that most importantly, comply with any demands made and do exactly as you are told. The robbers are in control of the situation because they are armed, and it serves no purpose to resist their instructions – you will only be putting your lives at risk. Try to stay calm and take slow, deliberate breaths, and avoid looking directly into their faces. Try to speak slowly and clearly and do not shout or raise your voice or make sudden movements, as they are likely more nervous than you are. Activate the alarm only if you can do it secretly. A siren can cause panic and trigger a violent response from the robbers. You should have surveillance systems in place to record details like time and suspect descriptions, and your focus should be on staff safety. If you feel secure enough to attempt to observe any information about the thieves, SAPS provides the following tips:
- Don’t make it obvious.
- Focus on one person at a time
- Gain an overall impression first:
- Height
- Build
- Firearm or other weapon
- Clothing
- Special features – a limp, deformities, birthmarks, etc.
- Then look at details: Facial features – round/sharp, eyes close set/wide apart, etc.
- Remember any names used by the robbers when talking to each other
- Remember what they touch so police can dust them for fingerprints, where they walk, any cigarette butts discarded, body fluids deposited, etc
- Vehicles: The same rules apply, overall impression first, and then the details:
- First look at the make and model
- Colour
- Noticeable features
- Registration number
Never attempt to prevent their exit or give chase, and once the robbers leave, lock the door and call police and your security company. Keep your hands off jewellery cases, door handles and any other surfaces the criminals might have touched. As soon as possible, write down any detail you may remember. Keep witnesses in the store if possible, or get contact information so police can interview the witnesses quickly.
Report and share to the industry as a whole
The JCSA is working closely with the Consumer Goods Council of SA (CGCSA), which in turn, is working with SAPS. They emphasise the importance of reporting all incidents to Puleng Rachidi (pulengr@cgcsa.co.za) at the CGCSA as soon as possible when incidents take place, as you may be assisting with the prevention of a future robbery. Puleng will not be able to send out a detailed incident alert to member jewellers unless all of the following detail is supplied:
- Date and time of the incident
- Store name (suburb, city or town)
- Modus operandi (a full description of the event)
- Any injuries or fatalities
- Type of vehicle used (model, make & colour)
- Please attach images/footage, if available
- Indicate whether a case has been opened with SAPS. If so, please provide the case number and SAPS station. (This info will not be circulated in the alert)
- Indicate whether or not you would like the alert to be sent as anonymous
For the safety of our clients, a reminder that CPM’s opening times to the public are by appointment, and 8am to 4pm (Monday to Thursday) and 8am to 2pm on Fridays. Please also remember to insist on checking orders delivered to you from CPM in front of our driver, but preferably not in your waiting room areas.