SecurityWise: Distraction and Sleight of Hand Prevention Advice
18 Jul 2022
It’s well established how a group of criminals will work together to overwhelm sales staff in jewellery stores to the point where one of the criminals in the group is not attended to and can gain access to precious high-value items.
Teams or groups may enter the store together and disperse, or they may enter separately. Whilst on the first impression, they may not appear to be colluding, they have probably cased their targeted location numerous times, and this is when you have been monitored and criminals have coordinated a well-orchestrated effort. The lengths that criminals will go to in a distraction effort or sleight of hand attempt can at times be very dramatic including pretending illnesses or appear frustrated over poor customer service.
Following the continued threat of organised gangs from Eastern Europe, SaferGems has recently issued bulletins reminding members to be on alert and remain extra vigilant for these types of criminals operating in your area.
Here’s some useful reminders:
1. Be aware of groups of two or more people entering your store together or people in your store who may try to appear to be unconnected but can often be working in cooperation with others to distract you.
2. Use a code word to alert other employees of suspicious activity. Ask another member of staff to verify a price to bring them in on the sale and an extra pair of eyes on the activities. If staff numbers enable, have a member of staff loiter by the door.
3. Keep display cases and safes locked when not using them. With keys removed. Never allow your showcase keys to be accessible to anyone but store staff.
4. Be especially vigilant when multiple persons try to confuse you by asking to be shown numerous items at the same time.
5. Be methodical, deal with only one item at a time.
6. Have a colleague shadow your sale.
7. Be aware of persons in open possession of large bundles of cash as this is a common method used by distraction/sleight of hand offenders.
8. Culprit(s) might request items to be boxed/gift wrapped only to use sleight of hand to pick the goods out of their boxes/wrapping. They will then state they have insufficient funds and leave the store, saying they will return.
9. Always unwrap, unbox, and check the boxes/gift wrapping before the ‘customer’ leaves your store to ensure the items are still where they should be.
10. Again, if you feel uneasy, ask for price verification.
SaferGems is a UK initiative against crime in the Jewellery, Pawnbroker, Arts and Antiques industry. It was introduced in 2009 following a concern about the increase in crime committed against the jewellery industry.
It is intended to collate attacks, suspicious incidents, and intelligence in relation to jewellery crime around the whole of the UK. It is funded by the jewellery Industry through the National Association of Jewellers and TH March Insurance Brokers and is hosted by The British Security Industry Association.
Co-ordinated by a specialist independent team who have direct access to police intelligence, the SaferGems initiative facilitates the sharing of vital information received from SaferGems scheme members and the police to alert members across the UK to the possibility of crime in their geographical area.
Contact the SaferGems team
Telephone: 01905 342 051
Email: intel@safergems.org.uk
Source: SecurityWise