Coin shop report - from behind the counter

[hydro]

Here's a money maker that Skeptic or CoinHunter can jump on:

A 2010 Silver Calendar

You can call it "SILVER HOTTIES FROM BEHIND THE COUNTER"

I different hottie every month covered in just enough silver to help increase your in-store sales!!

[Montecristo]

This kind of fits in with Coinhunters thread, but I don't want to step on anyone's toes. So, it's alright if you don't want these in here.

Would anyone find these helpful if I posted them as I receive them?

ANOTHER BURGLARY WITH ROOFTOP ENTRY

Fort Worth, TX area – October 31, 2009

Burglars entered from an air conditioning vent on the roof, disabled the alarm system, and successfully attacked four TL-30 safes with cutting disk tools and an electric drill.



JSA HAS GIVEN THIS ADVICE IN BULLETINS AND ALERTS MANY TIMES IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, BUT IT MUST BE REPEATED:



1. The equipment burglars are using today can allow them to easily enter a wide range of safes using tools commonly available at Home Depot. While various ratings of safes may have been adequate in the past, the improvement in tools easily obtained by burglars may mean that TL-15s and TL-30s do not offer adequate protection. Consider upgrading to a TRTL 30x6 rated safe if you want greater burglary protection.



2. If your alarm system doesn’t have line security, you don’t have adequate burglary protection. Without line security, if a burglar cuts your lines or disables your alarm system, no signal is sent and the burglars will have sufficient time to enter your safe. Talk to your alarm company about line security, and make sure your system is tested regularly to make sure your line security is working.



3. Does your alarm system offer protection when burglars break through the roof, a back door, a bathroom window, an air conditioning unit or through a wall? Talk to your alarm company and make sure your premises are fully protected.



SEE A SURVEILLANCE PHOTO OF A SNEAK THEFT SUSPECT

Suspect distracts staff, reaches into showcase for 2-carat diamond

Columbia, SC area – September 17, 2009

A suspect entered a retail jewelry store seeking a two carat engagement ring. When he was shown a ring and matching wedding band from the antique and estate showcase, he asked to see other stones. When the owner went to get the other stones, the suspect occupied and distracted the employees on the floor, and then reached into the showcase and took the two carat ring he had been shown. The suspect, who spoke with great knowledge about jewelry, left in ten minutes. The ring was discovered to be missing later that day and the surveillance photos were then reviewed.

SEE A PHOTO OF THIS SUSPECT ON THE UPPER LEFT OF THE HOMEPAGE OF THE JSA WEBSITE, www.jewelerssecurity.org.



JEWELER ARRESTED FOR SHOOTING AT FLEEING THIEF

Mesquite, TX – October 30, 2009

A customer in a mall retail jewelry store was being shown a ring with a retail value of $10,000. As the ring was being shown, the man grabbed it and ran from the store. The owner took out his gun and fired at the thief, missing him, while the bullet ricocheted off shelving inside a nearby department store and came to rest on the carpet near a rack of men’s sweaters. Shoppers in the mall at 4:45 p.m. on a Friday afternoon ran for cover. No one was hurt, but the jewelry store owner who fired the shot was arrested for deadly conduct for discharging the firearm and had bond set at $40,000. The suspect is described as a black male in his 20s, 6’, 240 lbs, with a military-style haircut and a full beard.



BURGLARS FLEE IN GREEN FORD TAURUS

Harwich Port, MA – October 27, 2009

At 3:30 p.m. a white male suspect dressed in a camouflage jacket and wearing sunglasses used a metal bar to smash the window of a retail jewelry store. He took merchandise from the window and was then joined by a second white male suspect with a strong Boston accent. The suspects walked away and got in a green Ford Taurus and fled. The store was closed during the incident but witnesses at nearby businesses reported the burglary to police. The suspects were described as in their 30s.



SUSPECT CHARGED IN KILLING OF HUSBAND AND WIFE JEWELRY DEALERS

Iva, SC – October 23, 2009

A husband (72) and wife (69) who were jewelry dealers went to meet a person who they had previously done business with and who they thought was going to introduce them to another person who had a large amount of jewelry to sell. They met with the suspect and got into a car together, and the suspect directed them to a place where the supposed seller was going to be. Instead, the suspect took them to an isolated area and used a blunt instrument to beat them to death. RECOMMENDATION: Use extreme caution in meeting buyers or sellers in non-retail locations, and recognize that the buyer or seller may be setting you up for a robbery and violence.



WANTED JEWELRY CRIMINAL COMMITS SUICIDE

Knoxville, TN – November 2, 2009

A suspect named Timothy Allen Liess, who was wanted by Austin, Texas police for crimes against jewelry firms including grab and runs, bad checks and switches, committed suicide in TN when police tried to take him into custody. Acting on a tip regarding where the suspect was staying, the police spotted him at midnight as he went to his car in the parking lot. When the officers approached, he took out a handgun and shot himself.

[Steel Blue]

You sound like a very nice person and are running an honest business, My hat is off to you Sir. I'm also located in the cheesehead state.

[CoinHunter53562]

Originally Posted by Steel Blue

You sound like a very nice person and are running an honest business, My hat is off to you Sir. I'm also located in the cheesehead state.

Thanks Steel. You're welcome to come visit if it's convenient for you. Just let me know if you need directions or hours.

Originally Posted by CoinHunter53562

I had a guy bring in alot of jewelry, some broken, some tangled, overall it was a mess of stuff in one bag. I had to go through and first magnet test each piece (after untangling the mess), and then further check for stamps on each piece, and then verify them with a gold test.

Do you find that there are many cases of a piece being stamped with a certain purity, then upon acid testing discover that it's of lower purity? I would guess that most fake jewellery is easy to spot between magnets and acid, but have no idea how much underkarating goes on.

Great thread, btw!

[fasTTcar]

I have a bag of stamped 14k necklaces that passed an acid (however, I did not scratch too deep) that turned out to be well plated pieces. They were one of the reasons that I bought a digital tester and pay very close attention.

I keep them in my desk drawer to remind me to test properly.

Almost all of the fakes that I have seen came from Italy FWIW.

[GoldWampum]

Originally Posted by fasTTcar

I have a bag of stamped 14k necklaces that passed an acid (however, I did not scratch too deep) that turned out to be well plated pieces. They were one of the reasons that I bought a digital tester and pay very close attention.

I keep them in my desk drawer to remind me to test properly.

Almost all of the fakes that I have seen came from Italy FWIW.

What type of electronic tester did you settle on and how accurate do you think it is for the purposes of detecting purity and plating both?

EDIT: Son in Law has an Italian necklace he wants to have tested for melt.

[TheSkeptic]

Originally Posted by fasTTcar

I have a bag of stamped 14k necklaces that passed an acid (however, I did not scratch too deep) that turned out to be well plated pieces. They were one of the reasons that I bought a digital tester and pay very close attention.

I keep them in my desk drawer to remind me to test properly.

Almost all of the fakes that I have seen came from Italy FWIW.

I have noticed that 14K G.F. pieces will usually pass a 10K acid test... was the plating on these thicker than 1/20?

And I'm surprised you use electronic testers - you've found them to be more accurate than touchstones and loose acid?

[fasTTcar]

I use both acids and a GT 3000 tester. The vast majority of my testing is done just on the electronic tester, but if I am concerned I then test with acids.

I am very happy with the testers ( I have a couple) and recommend them. However, the gels get kind of pricey if you are doing volumes.

[GoldWampum]

Originally Posted by fasTTcar

I use both acids and a GT 3000 tester. The vast majority of my testing is done just on the electronic tester, but if I am concerned I then test with acids.

I am very happy with the testers ( I have a couple) and recommend them. However, the gels get kind of pricey if you are doing volumes.

Thanks. The GT-3000 is what I have been considering to go along with the regular acid testing. I want both as well. I guess if volume is causing you to have to buy new gel probes, that can't be all bad. What does a new gel probe cost?

And I'm looking at a cost of $260 for the GT-3000. Is that about the average?

[TheSkeptic]

Originally Posted by fasTTcar

I use both acids and a GT 3000 tester. The vast majority of my testing is done just on the electronic tester, but if I am concerned I then test with acids.

I am very happy with the testers ( I have a couple) and recommend them. However, the gels get kind of pricey if you are doing volumes.

So you have not had problems with the electronic testers getting thrown off by thicker plating? (1/20th or higher)

[fasTTcar]

Anytime something does not look right, I notch it and acid test it. I rarely get false readings, but do use acid testing as a back up.

GW - The gel costs about $20 per tube delivered and does a couple hundred tests. Not terribly expensive, but something to keep in mind.

[Firenhole]

Originally Posted by fasTTcar

I have a bag of stamped 14k necklaces that passed an acid (however, I did not scratch too deep) that turned out to be well plated pieces. They were one of the reasons that I bought a digital tester and pay very close attention.

I keep them in my desk drawer to remind me to test properly.

Almost all of the fakes that I have seen came from Italy FWIW.

How can you be sure the fakes are from Italy, certainly the Italy stamp can be fake also? Just curious, no harm intended.

[fasTTcar]

Italy is a huge retail marketer of jewelery. It is sold in town squares throughout the country, many to tourists.

A lot of that jewelery is fake.

[TheSkeptic]

Have you ever seen a fake chain stamped on the clasp? Personally I never have.

I've seen them all day long stamped everywhere but there though. Weird.

Any of you tried a Mizar M24 electronic tester? I read good reports about them, and the manufacturer states that the machine can accurately test even thickly plated gold:

TESTING FOR GOLD PLATE INTRODUCTION

Probably most of the Gold plated items referred to as “costume jewelry” or “fashion jewelry” contain Gold at the surface, which is no thicker than eight
millionths of an inch. Such a Gold plate is referred to as Gold flash. A large percentage of Gold flash is sufficiently thin and/or porous (microscopically) that the M24 Gold Tester will “read through” the plate and indicate “NOT GOLD”. A thicker plate will read as Karat Gold unless a portion of the surface being tested is erased with the eraser pencil or filed to expose the metal underneath. The eraser should be used as first choice since it is easier to use and non-destructive. However, the eraser will not work on thick Gold plate.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PROCEDURE

To determine that an item is Gold plated “non-Gold”, the user of the M24 Gold Tester must take at least two different readings, one reading of a surface, which has not been erased or filed. The reading of the erased or filed surface will be lower if the metal underneath is not gold. (To be sure the metal underneath is not Palladium, see the section on “TESTING FOR PALLADIUM”.) The M24 Gold Tester will read as “NOT GOLD” if a sufficient area of non-Gold is exposed to the liquid but the un-erased or un-filed Gold plate exposed to the liquid does have some effect on the reading, this is why point 2 of the following section under “PRECAUTIONS” is important.

When testing for heavy Gold plate, it may be necessary to use a fast drying lacquer or material such as a clear fingernail polish. The area to be tested must be coated with the lacquer and allowed to dry. Next, make a file mark in the center of the coating deep enough to expose the base metal. Then test the exposed base metal with the M24 Gold Tester. Do not allow the Testing Solution to touch any part of the Gold that has not been coated.

PRECAUTIONS

1) When testing the un-erased or un-filed portion, be sure that the test area has been relatively unaffected by wear. Flat or thin Gold plated items will tend to be worn at the edges. If it is difficult not to expose a worn area when testing an un-erased or un-filed area, the user may wish to selectively mask any area in question with fast drying lacquer. The reason for masking a worn surface is that if you test a worn surface first, you may obtain the lower Karat reading before any erasing or filing has been accomplished. You, therefore, may not get a lower Karat value on your second test and not be able to determine that you are testing Gold plate.

2) When testing the erased or filed portion, be sure that enough of the surface area immersed in the liquid is erased or filed down to expose the suspected “base metal” underneath.

MORE DATA ON TESTING FOR GOLD PLATE

The vast majority of Gold plate is 22K or better. Most Gold plated jewelry is flash Gold plate and most flash Gold plate is less than 5 millions of an inch (1/8 micron). The M24 Gold Tester will read right through the 22K Gold plate and indicate anywhere from not Gold to 12 K Gold. Any time you get a 12K or lower reading, Gold plating should be suspected. To determine Gold plate simply use the gray flat eraser on the test sight and then inspect for the presence of base metal.

In addition, inspect the Gold color of items reading 9-12 K Gold. If they are really 9-12K they would not have that “rich” color of a 22K Gold plated item.

FINAL POINT

It is strongly recommended that users of the M24 Gold Tester practice testing for Gold plate on a few items believed or known to be Gold plated. A few sets of practice runs described under “General Description of Procedure” will impart confidence to the point that the user will find testing for Gold plate to be fast and easy.

These machines retail for around $150, compared to the Tri Electronics GXL-24 Pro, a similar machine in terms of capability of testing for all the way up to pure gold, retailing for around $430.

[Montecristo]

I have never used the Mizer tester, but I do use the Tri Electronics tester.

I have both the GT-4000 and the GXL-24 pro. They both work equally as well. They both will accurately differentiate 18k and 21k, but have trouble differentiating 21k from 22k.
The GXL 24 has a little nicer readout. After testing an item it reads "14kt" or "18kt" whereas the GT-4000 will give you a number readout that then has to be looked up in a chart to see what karat the item actually is. You will quickly learn what the readout numbers translate to as a karat reading and will soon not need the chart. I don't think the extra money for a GXL-24 is worth it.

I think having both an electronic tester and acid is a good idea for anyone buying scrap. Between the two of the methods it is very hard to be fooled.

There's another electronic tester available, the "Golden Touch". From reading the manuals, this one appears to have the easiest way to test plated from non-plated items, but I've not found any comments from anyone who's used one. It's cheaper than all the rest at about $90.

[fasTTcar]

Originally Posted by TheSkeptic

Have you ever seen a fake chain stamped on the clasp? Personally I never have.

I've seen them all day long stamped everywhere but there though. Weird.

The 4 I have in my desk drawer were all stamped 14k on the connecting piece to the clasp (don't know the name but it is the flat piece in the picture).




The other scam i have run across is when the karat is stamped (correctly) on that piece but the actual necklace or bracelet is a lower grade.

[TheSkeptic]

Yeah, I don't trust those connecting pieces at all. Only stamps on the actual clasp itself.


Sometimes the clasp on a 10K chain will break, and a jeweler will replace it with a 14K clasp (or, the person intentionally does it). The rest of the chain is stamped 10K. I've seen this several times but never seen one properly stamped 14K in all locations that is actually a 10K chain. Caution definitely pays...

I am also careful to make sure that all charms/bezels/etc hanging from chains are the same karat as the chain. Many times I've found that they aren't.

[Firenhole]

besides on the opposite end of the lobster clasp where else might my Figaro chain be marked 14k?

[TheSkeptic]

Look on the actual moving part of the clasp. Most legit chains are stamped there, or at least somewhere on the actual clasp.

For 14K you may also see a 585 instead of 14K. Many chains will have 585 on the clasp, then 14K on the other two connecting pieces (not sure what they're called).

[Montecristo]

SEE A PHOTO OF A DISTRACTION THEFT SUSPECT

JSA issues Wanted Bulletin

Auburn, MA – October 18, 2009

A wanted suspect and an accomplice posed as customers at a retail jewelry store location in a mall. While the accomplice distracted two sales associates with questions regarding a purchase of a gift for his wife, Tyrone Payne was observed crouched down behind a display case. When a sales associate yelled, both suspects ran from the store with jewelry valued at over $100,000. A witness provided the police with the plate number of their escape vehicle, which subsequently led to the arrest of the accomplice. The wanted suspect remains at large and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. He is described as a black male, 45 years old, 6’2” and 205 lbs. If you have information, contact Detective Eric Dyson, Auburn (MA) Police Department at 508-832-7738.



ROOFTOP BURGLARY CRIME WAVE CONTINUES

Atlanta, GA area – November 6, 2009

Burglars cut a hole in the roof of a retail jewelry store, then entered and cut all the phone and DSL cables. They ran a water hose from the sink, and used the water to cool the safes as they cut with a torch. They took the contents of the safes and took the DVR system with them. Burglars were at the scene between 11:30 a.m. and 5:50 a.m., bringing all their tools with them and leaving the tools at the scene upon departure.



HOME INVASION OF STORE MANAGER IN CONNECTICUT

Griswold, CT – November 12, 2009

At 8:20 a.m. police found a burning car in Montville, CT and the registration led them to a home in Griswold, CT. At the home state troopers discovered a husband and wife tied up who reported that they had been there since 1:00 a.m. when the home invasion began. When police learned that the man was the manager of a jewelry store in Norwich, they contacted the Norwich Police who went to the store at 9:00 a.m. where they discovered that a burglary had occurred. The owner reported that the burglars got away with very little.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Jewelers must remember that they are targets 24/7.

1. Vary your route to and from your store and engage in evasive driving techniques. Are you being followed?

2. Employ physical security at home including adequate locks, alarms and lighting.

3. Instruct all family members and any household help not to open the door to strangers, and to be on guard for people casing your street. Many home invasions have started when the criminals gained entrance to the home by posing as delivery personnel, such as with flowers.

4. Some jewelers highly recommend a dog at home for warning and protection.

[Firenhole]

SKEPTIC and other GIM dealers PLEASE "lock n' load" and be careful....