New York: The total number of crimes committed against U.S. jewellery firms reported to the Jewellers Security Alliance (JSA) increased by 5.8 percent on the year to 1,245 in 2016 from 1,177 in 2015, the organization says in its annual report.
Total dollar losses from crimes committed against U.S. jewellery firms increased by 4.5 percent to $72.4 million in 2016 from $69.3 million in 2015.
Meanwhile, reports of grab and run thefts increased to 420 last year from 301 in 2015, a 40-percent increase. The average grab and run loss in 2016 was $7,664.
Off-premises crimes, including traveling salesperson losses, fell to a total of 48 in 2016, the second lowest total since the 1980s. There were six homicides of jewellers in 2016, including a rare triple homicide in Jackson, Mississippi.
JSA President John Kennedy said: "While JSA is keeping a close eye on the relatively small uptick in crime, the longer-term crime trends against the industry are still down. Even a few very active gangs can cause small fluctuations in crime from year to year. However, the great job being done by the FBI, police and loss prevention personnel, and the tremendous cooperation and sharing of crime information by all has the industry on the right path for resumed crime reduction."
