Battle of wits between jewelers and thieves

John Kennedy, president of the Jewelers Security Alliance in New York, defends the FBI. He says their efforts have largely driven the thieves out of Miami and Los Angeles. Nationwide, in fact, losses were down last year, thanks largely to beefed up sting operations in major cities. But often local police are either embarrassed by such crimes taking place in their town - or ill-equipped to deal with the sophisticated robbers.

"The fact is that we're seeing more vigorous enforcement in the Georgia area, but it takes a little time to discourage these gang members and to drive them out," says Mr. Kennedy.

But that's little comfort to the Shoptaughs of the world. For one thing, the crimes are only becoming more violent: Last year saw an 8 percent rise in robberies where a gun was used. They are also often bold - and costly:

• On Jan. 23, a group of ski-hooded men followed four salesmen from Hong Kong into an eatery in the Bellaire district of Houston. They robbed the dealers, in daylight, in the restaurant.

• On Dec. 2, robbers grabbed $132,000 worth of jewels and gold from an unattended dealer's car in a parking lot in Richards, Texas.

• Last August, thieves took $400,000 worth of jewelry from a salesman in Roswell, Ga.

The loot, many believe, is often taken to a central collection point somewhere in the US. The gold is likely melted and the stones removed. And then it's converted into cash, usually overseas, experts say.

But by keeping cool, very few are ever caught - and even fewer convicted. While some of the thefts are done by inner-city gangs, "99.9 percent of them are professionals from South America," says Kennedy.

"The [robbers] know two things if they get caught: If they talk, they'll be killed. If they keep their cool, someone will take care of their bail, no matter how much it is. And then they'll just disappear," says Mr. Adams.

Faced with fearful salespeople and major losses, the jewelry industry is changing its strategies. A firm in Atlanta, for example, is now providing heavy security at sales conferences, where sellers and buyers can congregate and where jewels can be shipped in by armored car, says Carol Young of the Southern Jewelry Travelers Association.

The couriers and salespeople are becoming more cautious, too. Most don't show up in suits and Cadillacs the way they used to. Today, they're just as likely to be driving a Honda Civic, wearing jeans and a T-shirt, and carrying their jewels into plastic bags.

"As soon as you let your guard down, you're liable to get robbed," says Kennedy.

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