Jewelers and Police To Cooperate In Crime Fighting Initiative

An initiative to battle crimes against jewelers was recently announced in the U.S. The Jewelers’ Security Alliance (JSA), in partnership with Jewelers of America (JA) and Jewelers Mutual Insurance, will develop local crime prevention networks of jewelers and police that will share information on crimes, suspects and crime prevention measures.

The initiative is based on the understanding that sharing information between communities as well as between jewelers and law enforcement bodies will help reduce crime.

The groups will be organized in towns, cities, counties and states throughout the U.S., with the goal of forming 200 local networks operating within three years.

JA and Jewelers Mutual Insurance have each pledged $300,000 to this project. JCK/Reed Exhibition provided seed money through a $100,000 JCK Industry Fund grant to JSA in 2006.

JSA is conducting a fundraising campaign for this project , planning to recognize the partners and contributors at a gala 125th Anniversary Luncheon on January 12, 2008. FBI Director Robert S. Mueller is scheduled as the principal speaker.

According to JSA President John Kennedy, such networks lead to more arrests, greater awareness of security issues and better cooperation with police, leading to a significant reduction in crime.

“I have helped organize and have been involved with a local jewelers’ crime prevention group in Dallas, Texas for the past several years,” said Patti Geolat, chair of Jewelers Mutual Insurance, “and I have seen firsthand the effectiveness of such a group.”