How do you pull off a diamond theft worth over $100,000? A man simply walked out of Tiffany’s flagship store in New York City in the middle of the day with two diamond necklaces.
In an interview with abcnews.com, Thomas Martin, a former federal agent and head of Martin Investigative Services in California, commented that the June 7, 2013 theft wasn’t that surprising. Even with dramatic advances in high tech security systems, basic security still comes down to employee training.
In this instance, a well-dressed man walked in, chatted with an employee close to the door, and when she turned her back he took the necklaces and walked out. Police are still investigating. Martin said, “Why go in with a gun if you can just walk in with your hand?”
Martin points to high profile cases such as Lindsey Lohan, who pleaded no contest when charged with taking a $2,500 necklace from a Los Angeles jewelry store several years ago. Employees need basic security training as the first and best line of defense in preventing loss, even when faced with celebrity customers or people who are nicely dressed and don’t raise an immediate alarm.
Robbery with a weapon is an opportunity created by the thief – allowing people to simply walk out with stolen merchandise is an opportunity created by employees. Martin says, “It’s all about employee training.”