SPECIAL SECURITY ALERT REGARDING
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
JSA is concerned about your health and safety, and wishes
to highlight some important security recommendations
specifically related to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Most of JSA’s
regular security recommendations remain the same during
this time, however, there are some special risks that need to
be emphasized, and important protections needed for this
critical time.
In addition to this Alert, further recent recommendations
from JSA regarding security and Covid-19 can also be found
on the JSA website, www.jewelerssecurity.org, with links to
interviews last week by JSA in National Jeweler, JCK and in
a Jewelers of America webinar interview.
JSA personnel are working from an off-site location, and are
in regular contact with JSA’s law enforcement network
partners, as well as jeweler crime victims. JSA and the
industry offer special thanks to law enforcement personnel
who now have to handle Covid-19 issues, putting their health
at risk, in addition to the usual risks they face every day in
fighting crime.
If you have any security questions, contact JSA by email at
jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org. Below are some key issues of
concern at this time.
BURGLARY
With many stores closing due to the virus, with an unknown
date of reopening, burglary becomes a paramount issue for
jewelers.
1. Jewelers need to put away all goods in a safe or vault,
and not leave goods in showcases. Goods left in
showcases are a magnet for burglars, and even lower
end goods need to be put away. If you don’t have room
in your safe or vault, put lower end goods in a locked
cabinet, drawer or closet.
2. You should test your alarm system, including motion
detectors and other components, before closing.
3. Many jewelers have safes offering inadequate
protection from today’s burglars. If your jeweler’s
block insurance coverage allows you to store your
higher end merchandise or a portion of your inventory
in a bank vault, you might wish to consider this for the
duration of the closure.
4. Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company will be launching
a program for their insureds, in cooperation with secure
shipping firm Malca-Amit, to pick up some or all of
your inventory and put it in Malca-Amit’s secure
vaults.
IF YOUR STORE REMAINS OPEN
Follow JSA’s regular security advice, such as not resisting in
a robbery, showing one item at a time, and keeping your
showcases locked except when actually taking product out or
returning it to the showcase.
Look for JSA’s red flags indicating a possible suspicious
situation, such as: three or more people entering together,
criminals disguising their appearance with hats and
sunglasses, people talking on cell phones, people wearing
inappropriate clothing for the season, or putting clothing
down on a showcase counter. When you see such red flags,
you and the store staff need to go on high alert.
INCREASED CYBER SECURITY RISKS FROM
WORKING AT HOME
If you are working from home, you need to be especially
careful that you do not present an increased cyber security
risk to your business. Law enforcement and cyber experts
warn of an upsurge in fraud and hacking since there are so
many more inadequately protected people working on their
computers or smartphones from home.
1. Make sure your home digital device has robust and
updated protection: firewall, malware and spam
protection.
2. When available use a secure company email system,
Virtual Private Network (VPN) or an encryption system
to protect your communications, and not your personal
email system.
3. Don’t use public Wi-Fi, which can easily be hacked by
criminals.
4. Be especially alert for phishing attempts in which
criminals try to have you open and click links in emails
which appear to be genuine. If you have the slightest
doubt regarding the legitimacy of an email, simply
delete it.
5. Be on guard for fraud attempts involving social
engineering, in which criminals may, for example,
impersonate a customer or vendor and attempt to have
you send money or jewelry product. Look carefully at
email addresses that might be slightly different from
your actual customer or vendor. If you have any doubts
in a transaction, contact the known customer or vendor
by phone to confirm the transaction or request is
legitimate.
On behalf of the Board and staff of JSA, we hope you and
your families, loved ones, employees, co-workers and
customers stay healthy and safe.
John J. Kennedy, President, Jewelers Security Alliance
Scott F. Guginsky, Vice President (Retired NYPD Det. Sgt.)
Ryan O. Ruddock, Senior Crime Analyst
Contact: jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org
https://jewelerssecurity.org
https://twitter.com/jsajohnkennedy
http://stolenjewelry.org
Copyright© 2020 by Jewelers Security Alliance