The news has been ripe with reports of jewelry salesman being robbed at gunpoint. In fact, jewelry salesman can be carrying more in jewelry, gems and diamonds than an armored truck. Many of these salesman travel from state to state and as such, they arrive at airports around the country, rent a car, pop their goods into the trunk and they're off to meet with their clients.

In most cases, these salesman (while adept in the art of selling jewelry) have no common sense when it comes to protecting their goods. As opposed to being pro-active when they travel, the jewelry salesman will most times fly the same airlines, rent cars from the same car rental agencies and schedule their visits to their clients in the same order. In other words, they have a set pattern and that pattern becomes their weakest link in the chain.

The following are just a ideas in how to travel safe when carrying jewelry, gems and diamonds:

a. Change your routine. Never stay at the same hotel twice and never discuss what you do for a living. When checking into a hotel, never present a business card and any information which might tend to "give away" your profession.

b. Fly different airlines. Vary your flight schedules and don't discuss what you do for a living with other passengers or in-flight staff. All too often, we have a habit of speaking to strangers and we might say something that tips off those we're speaking to (and those in immediate ear-shot) of what we do for a living.

 

c. Rent a car with On-Star, as if the vehicle is stolen, it can be tracked within minutes. On-Star equipped vehicles have the option (at one touch of a button) to contact the police. In other words, if you've rented a car equipped with On-Star, don't fight or try to negotiate with a car jacker, as the car can be located via On-Star GPS.

 

d. When leaving the airport, vary your route once out of the airport terminal. The best place to drive into in order to see if you're being followed is into a bank parking lot. Most bank parking lots drive thru's face the main highway and/or main street. Pull in and up to the drive thru ATM teller and withdraw $20.00 (during banking hours). Once in the drive thru lane, you'll have a clear view as to any vehicles which may drive by slowly and pull into an adjacent lot. Remember, those who would attempt to rob you stay away from any potential video capturing equipment. Banks are just ripe with cameras and video capturing devices.

e. If you think you're being followed (and you rented a car with On-Star) call On-Star and have them track your vehicle. Inform the On-Star operator that you think you're being followed. On-Star can contact the police and the police can be told your location (and the direction/route you're traveling). 

In addition, you can ask the On-Star operator to give you turn by turn directions to the nearest police station.

f. There are those who will give a jewelry salesman the advice to periodically turn up and down streets to see if they're being followed. Not a very good idea, as if you turn up a side street and don't know the neighborhood, you could be asking for trouble. If you're being followed by one car, it could be two cars following you (not one) and those who know their area could dispatch one car to go around side streets in order to end up in front of you. If you've got one car in front and one car in back of you, both cars can stop abruptly and box you in.

h. One of the main places that will be watched will be your client's store location. You might as well say "come and rob me" when pulling into a jewelry store parking lot. Here's an idea. Instead of visiting your client at their location, pick a major hotel (not some out of the place location/hotel) and invite the client to come and see you.
The best (and most secure place) to meet is at a major airport hotel location. There are camera's everywhere (lobby, bars, elevators) and a hotel security staff.

i. When checking in at the airport, ask for a private security screening. If there's anything in your cases, which requires you to open them up in a public place, you just "gave away" the store! You have just opened yourself up to those watching on cameras, airport security personnel, fellow travelers, janitors and airport workers.

Travel with one small carry-on which has a change of underwear, shirt, socks and a pair of slacks. The other carry-on will be your product. Fore go making a fashion statement with being smart. Make your trips "day trips" and not overnight trips (if possible). If you travel with a bag which must be checked-in, you're now subject to waiting for that bag to be delivered to you at the turn belt, which is an invitation to be watched and a place where more bags go missing due to large crowds standing shoulder to shoulder.

j. Make a list of who you're going to visit, where you're going to stay, name of the airline and give it your spouse or partner before leaving on your trip. If possible, place the estimated times of arrival at every location and have your spouse/partner call you or reuqire you to call them at every stop.

Let's hear some more ideas on how to protect jewelry salesman...