Overview and key points
A sharp rise in violent daylight raids across the UK has left independent and family‑run jewellers increasingly exposed, with two major smash‑and‑grab attacks occurring just days apart.
These incidents highlight a growing trend of fast, aggressive, and highly visible crime targeting high‑value retailers in busy public spaces. Against this backdrop, jewellers are urgently reassessing their security measures, risk exposure, and insurance protection.
This article explores the evolving threat landscape and outlines practical steps businesses can take to strengthen resilience – from modern security upgrades to comprehensive Jewellers’ Block cover – ensuring staff remain protected and the reputations of longstanding community businesses are preserved.
Key takeaways
- Daylight smash‑and‑grab attacks on jewellers are rising, highlighting increasingly aggressive criminal behaviour.
- High‑value retailers must reassess security, staff preparedness, and risk exposure.
- Prevention measures – reinforced glazing, alarms, fogging systems, and smarter displays – are essential to building resilience.
- Updated insurance and tailored Jewellers’ Block cover help protect businesses should the worst occur.
Recent daylight attacks on independent, family run jewellers have delivered a stark reminder of how exposed high-end retailers have become. With two major smash and grab attacks occurring within as many days, the question on retailers’ minds is: how to build resilience to increasingly brazen behaviour.
In January alone, there were 10 robberies of jewellery stores in the UK, with half of them in London. This compares to a total of 22 robberies across the country in 2025.
On 29 January, several men armed with tools – including a sledgehammer – attempted to force entry into a Shepherd’s Bush jewellers, fleeing on mopeds with high value items before police could detain the full group.
Just 48 hours later, a family run jeweller in Richmond suffered a violent daylight raid where masked thieves used hammers to shatter reinforced glass and steal valuable jewellery items from their window displays within moments, as shocked bystanders looked on.
These incidents underline what many in the sector already feel: high value retailers are facing faster, more aggressive, and highly visible attacks, often in broad daylight and busy areas – the risks to businesses are evolving.
Our Role: Guiding Clients Through Rising Risk
As risk protection advisers, our conversations with clients naturally intensify after weeks like this. Our focus is always twofold:
1.Protecting people and livelihoods
These events remind us that jewellery businesses aren’t just shops – they are often family legacies, employing local teams of dedicated employees who deserve to feel safe. Our role is to help clients understand these evolving threats and ensure their insurance programme truly reflects the risks they face.
2.Strengthening resilience in the event of an attack
While comprehensive Jewellers’ Block cover is essential, the reality is that prevention remains the most powerful form of protection. The conversations we have with clients go far beyond policies – we help them think holistically about risk, including:
- Modern security glazing and reinforced window setups
- Fogging and alarm systems that disrupt attacks within seconds
- Smarter display protocols that limit exposure
- Staff preparedness for crisis situations
- Regular security reviews aligned with current crime trends
These measures aren’t about ticking boxes – they’re about keeping businesses operational, protecting staff, and preserving the reputations of long-standing jewellers in communities across the UK.
We’re here to support jewellers through uncertain times.
We’re working with clients across the sector to –support them through these challenging times, helping jewellers understand their current risk environment, strengthen their defences, and ensure that, should the worst happen, they are fully supported.
If you are thinking about reviewing your security, risk exposure, or insurance coverage in the wake of recent incidents, our team is at the end of the phone. They’ll talk you through the risk mitigation and tailored options you can put in place to safeguard your business, your people and what matters most – giving you peace of mind that you are protected.
Find out more about our specialist Jewellers Block cover here, and don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of experts, they’d love to help.