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Jewelers' Security Alliance
A Non-Profit, Crime Prevention Association
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CRIME PREVENTION BULLETIN
MAY 9, 1995
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CAN YOU SHIP JEWELRY SAFELY?
While it may seem like packages are disappearing left and right, in
reality, the overwhelming majority of shipped packages containing jewelry
arrive at their destinations safely. Too frequently, however, packages are
"lost" or their contents "disappear." Except for armored courier service,
losses occur regardless of shipping method or carrier. The U.S. Postal
Service, Federal Express, UPS and other carriers all experience losses.
Shipping jewelry involves putting high value goods into the hands of
anonymous employees of huge, sprawling shipping companies. Despite loss
prevention efforts by the shipping firms, LOSSES INEVITABLY OCCUR. Attacks
on your goods can range from dishonest shipping company employees slitting
open packages with razor blades, to armed robberies of shipping company
trucks by organized gangs who have spent weeks casing a jewelry firm and
learning its shipping routines and habits. FOR THE JEWELER THERE IS ONLY
ONE EFFECTIVE ANSWER TO SHIPPING LOSSES: HAVING ADEQUATE INSURANCE
PROTECTION.
RECENT EXAMPLES OF SHIPPING LOSSES
* A shipping service informed a California retail jeweler that the
package he sent, containing a diamond worth $4,850, arrived in its
distribution center damaged, with the contents missing. The recipient's
address was a well-known jewelry building.
* An employee of one shipping service was arrested for stealing dozens
of jewelry items worth over $50,000, which were being sent to jewelry
stores in a suburban mall.
* A diamond worth $82,000 was sent to a firm in a prime building in a
major jewelry district. Although initials were used on the package for
both the sender's and the recipient's firm names, the package was never
delivered.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ADEQUATE INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR YOUR SHIPMENT.
Shipping firms have widely differing policies with respect to insurance
availability, coverage and fees. Obtain the best possible insurance
protection from the shipper, which will then have greater financial
incentive for the safe delivery of your goods. In addition, discuss with
your insurance agent, broker or carrier what is the appropriate insurance
protection when shipping.
SUGGESTIONS FOR REDUCING SHIPPING LOSSES:
1. For shipping high value or irreplaceable goods, use an armored
courier service, such as Brinks, Malca Amit or Ferrari. Shipment by this
method has an excellent record for safety, although it may not be available
or practical on a daily basis because of time constraints, cost or shipping
locations.
2. Be aware of the high risk of shipping to high profile locations.
Even company initials, the street addresses of prominent jewelry buildings,
or zip codes of familiar jewelry areas may be known and targeted by those
who want to steal your goods. For certain recipients, you should consider
using an armored courier service.
3. Do not ship over a weekend. Packages may be left vulnerable
sitting in a warehouse until Monday morning.
4. You should never use the words jewelry, or any words having a hint
of jewelry or precious metals, on the outside of the package being shipped.
Although it may provide only limited protection, use initials or a
fictitious name for your own firm and the destination firm, if possible.
5. Disguise the outside of the package as much as possible as to
contents. Use misleading labels indicating non-jewelry goods.
6. Never ship an item in a container smaller than the size of a shoe
box, and use a package container for the outside provided by the shipping
company.
7. Splitting a shipment into two or more lower value parcels can
prevent a catastrophic loss.
SHIPPING JEWELRY IS INHERENTLY RISKY! DISCUSS YOUR SHIPPING
PRACTICES WITH YOUR INSURANCE AGENT OR BROKER, AND ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOUR
SHIPMENT IS INSURED!
JOHN J. KENNEDY, PRESIDENT
JEWELERS' SECURITY ALLIANCE
6 East 45th Street, New York, NY 10017
1-800-537-0067
Copyright 1995 by Jewelers' Security Alliance
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