The Jewelers Security Alliance (JSA) is launching an intensified drive to involve local law enforcement in the fight against jewelry crime, JSA president John Kennedy said at the organization’s annual luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria.

“We’ve had a three-year concentration on traveling salesmen, and trying to raise the FBI’s awareness of that problem,” said Kennedy. “We are not going to abandon that, but we also now want to focus more on crimes against retailers, which is under the jurisdiction of local law enforcement.”

He said the recent murders of a jeweler and his family in Michigan underscored the need for these intensified efforts.

JSA chairman Alan Kleinberg noted that, as a result of JSA’s efforts, the FBI is now more involved in crimes against traveling salespeople, and losses from such crimes have decreased by some $30 million.

Also at the luncheon, the James B. White award for law enforcement assistance to the jewelry industry was presented to FBI Supervisory Special Agent Edward J. Kelly. In addition, Ron Harder of Jewelers Mutual gave a $5,000 check in honor of White to the FBI Memorial Scholarship Fund for the children of deceased FBI agents.

Hugh Glenn of CYMA Watch/Glenn Corp. also received an award for his 10 years of service on the board.