Crime Trend
The HK Police in its annual press conference on the law and order situation in Hong Kong in 2023 gave figures on the rise of goldsmith/jewellery/watch (GJW) shop robberies in HK.
…… Over the past year, there were neither bank robbery cases nor robbery cases involving genuine firearms and stun guns. All seven cases of goldsmith/watch and jewelry shop robbery, which were of public concern, were detected, with all stolen property successfully recovered in some of the cases. In January 2024, Police also met with the jewellery and watch industry to provide security advice and thus forestall crimes…….
(Extract from The Government of the HKSAR Press Releases, d.d. 06-FEB-2024: Law and order situation in Hong Kong in 2023: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202402/06/P2024020600468.htm)
In the last 10 years from 2013 to 2023, the number of Robbery cases covering various categories including GJW cases have fluctuated:
The reported figures show there was a sharp rise in the number of GJW robbery cases when compared to the previous two years of 2022 and 2021 when HK was under the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The 2023 figure is small when compared to the number of reported GJW robberies during the social unrest years of 2019 and 2020.
Running a GJW shop is a highly esteemed retail business that is typically renowned in its local vicinity and often yields substantial profits. Nonetheless, operating a GJW’s storefront also has its downsides, particularly when it comes to criminal activity. In recent times, criminals have become increasingly sophisticated and strategic in their methods of stealing from the shopfronts. Criminal acts now extend beyond mere robbery and may encompass a range of offenses, such as:
- Fraud
- Forgery
- Hostage situations
- Kidnapping
- Theft
- Assault
In a retail setting, criminals employ various tactics to gain an advantage. These may include using force, deception, stealth, or arriving in large groups. Having a well-defined protocol in place when serving customers can help mitigate these risks.
Security Tips
The HK Police has issued some useful Security Tips for GJW Retailers to mitigate and preventing GJW robberies for retailers to consider and adopt:
In addition, for more in-depth workplace security tips, retailers should consider including the element of safety to provide the proper duty of care to their employees, who most often will be at the forefront of any likely robbery incident.
The setting-up of Contingency Plans and/or Standard Operating Procedures of all security and safety aspects for GJW shop employees and premises should be considered.
The in-depth Security and Safety Tips adopts the PREPARE/PREVENT, RESPOND and RECOVERY protocol that includes, but not limited to:
Prepare/Prevent
- When arriving or departing the shop – Vary your route.
- Observe the surroundings.
- Don’t open or close the store alone. One employee locks or unlocks the door, a second employee should watch from a safe distance and have a mobile phone to call the police if the co-worker is attacked.
- Never allow anyone (non-co-worker) to enter the store before you have opened or after you’ve closed at night for business.
- Check and inspect the identification of delivery drivers and other people who come into your shop.
- Use a doorbell so you know when someone is entering the shop.
- Have at least two employees in the store at all times.
- Train all employees on how to spot and respond to suspicious people.
- Have employees take breaks at different times with the minimum of two employees present at all times.
- Look at and greet all customers who enter your store, and keep a careful eye on those who try to avoid eye contact with you.
- Robbers often visit an intended target beforehand. Be suspicious of anyone paying more attention to the details of the premises, e.g. looking for CCTV cameras, staff procedures instead of the displayed items.
- Keep an eye out for individuals or vehicles loitering outside directly in sight of your store.
- Keep a log book of suspicious incidents. E.g. times, dates, descriptions of people or cars, etc.
- Be proactive and contact the local police station in your district to keep them aware of any suspicious behaviour of people or things you observe that could be a threat to the shop.
- Install a CCTV surveillance camera and recording system. Some CCTV cameras should be ¬conspicuous and obvious to deter would-be robbers and other CCTV cameras concealed or less-conspicuous. Consider ¬having a second CCTV video recorder or storing the video remotely.
- Use industrial certified reinforced glass or display cases (laminated glass) standard specially made to resist, deter, delay or deny the force of a smash-and-grab robbery.
- Do not leave valuable goods in the shop window after the shop is closed for the day.
- Do not show a customer more than one item at a time.
- Install a one-way mirror in your store..
- Have inconspicuous height markers on the doorways so police looking at CCTV surveillance footage can determine how tall the robbers are.
- Select special code words or phrases as an alert to all employees that know someone/something is suspicious, but customers won’t be alarmed.
- Don’t keep all your highest value items in one display case.
- Make sure your store interior is clearly visible from the street. Minimise the number of signage so your employees can clearly see anything suspicious outside and passersby can see inside.
- Prepare a plan of action so all employees know the procedure if a robbery attempt is made.
- Maintain an up-to-date list of emergency contact numbers stored in all employees’ mobile phones for telephoning or WhatsApp.
- If necessary, employ and deploy physical security guards on guard at the premises during business hours.
Respond
- Do what the robbers tell you and try not to panic.
- Don’t do anything to challenge the robbers verbally or physically.
- Avoid sudden movements and potentially threatening gestures.
- Don’t stare down at the robbers. Direct eye contact can be confrontational and provocative.
- Tell the robbers anything that might surprise them, like an employee in the back or someone you’re expecting to arrive. Caught off guard, they may be more likely to resort to violence.
- Take mental notes so you can tell police as much as possible on the robbers’ description: How many robbers are there? How tall are they? What’s their hair, eye, and skin color? What are they wearing like facemask, sunglasses, gloves, etc.?
- If you see any weapons like guns, knives, hammer, etc. try to ¬memorise what they look like.
- Observe what they touch (cases, doorknobs, doors, etc.) so that you can alert the police to ¬possible fingerprint evidence when they arrive.
- The less time the robbers are in the store, the less risk of injury.
Recovery
- Don’t chase or follow the robbers out of the shop.
- Don’t trigger the panic alarm button until after the robbers leave. Police confronting an armed robber/robbers could result in a physical struggle, hostage situation, etc.
- After the robbers leave, lock the door and call police ‘999’ immediately.
- Don’t clean off display cases or other surfaces because that could destroy fingerprints or other valuable evidence.
- Try to keep witnesses present until the police arrive, or at least get their contact information so police can follow-up with them later.
- Do not talk to the media/press or allow your employees to be interviewed.
Disclaimer:
The security tips provided are general guidelines and should not be considered as a substitute for professional advice. It is important to consult with a security expert and/or seek legal advice to ensure that your security measures are appropriate for your specific situation. Additionally, it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest security threats and to regularly review and update your security measures.
THE HONG KONG SECURITY ASSOCIATION 