The Jewelers’ Security Alliance has issued a “burglary alert” to jewelers in the Philadelphia area based on a pair of recent thefts that involved burglars cutting a hole from vacant second floor premises adjoining jewelry stores.

The Philadelphia Police Department told JSA that the most recent burglary happened overnight on July 6-7 when burglars entered a retail store from an unoccupied second floor over a retail store and then cut a hole in a wall directly to the rear of a safe of an adjoining jewelry store. The burglars used a cutting tool, and entered the safe, making a hole 18″ by 18.”

This is similar to another Philadelphia burglary that occurred overnight on May 11-12 in which burglars entered a vacant second story over a jewelry store, and cut a hole from the second floor into the rear of the jewelry store, Philadelphia police told JSA. The burglars then made an unsuccessful attempt to drill open the safe, but some items that were left out were taken.

In both instances, the rear of these stores, where entry was made, had no alarms, JSA said.

JSA published the information Thursday in its JSA “Crime Alert” electronic newsletter.

JCK