About the Alert Service
International Jewellers’ Alert Service – The crime prevention network for the jewellery and watch trade.
Organisation
The Jewellers’ Alert Service (Warndienst/WD) was founded in 1970, initially under the auspices of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Guild Association of Goldsmiths, Silversmiths and Jewellers. Participants are jewellers, goldsmiths, watchmakers, diamond and gemstone dealers, security service providers working for the industry, insurance companies in Germany and neighbouring countries, as well as their brokers.
The costs are financed by contributions (Euro 14.-/mth, as of 2023). The editors are Martin and Klaus Winckel.
The activities of the Alert Service were initially limited to North Rhine-Westphalia, but in the meantime the Alert Service is represented nationwide or Europe-wide (D/A/CH region) and is networked worldwide. Information is regularly exchanged with similar services for the jewellery industry in the Netherlands, France, Great Britain and the USA.
Conceptual approach
The aim of the Alert Service is prevention. By using state-of-the-art technology, potential victims (jewellers and their employees) can be warned of impending crimes or perpetrators within a few minutes throughout Germany/Europe. For this purpose, detailed representations of the working methods as well as descriptions and pictures of the perpetrators are an important prerequisite for recognition in the case of a renewed preparation of a crime or a crime. Through electronic comparison with the extensive existing data stock, the Alert Service can provide information on comparable offences or known and unknown persons wanted in this context within a very short time. Participants are requested to inform the police and the Alert Service immediately and inconspicuously if they see wanted or suspicious persons.
Another field of activity is the police’s joint search requests. Light or phantom pictures of wanted persons can be published in the warning messages and on the Internet, or the damaged owner (jewellers) or a crime scene can be determined on the basis of seized jewellery labels. This also includes the evaluation of hallmarks and engravings in jewellery or repair marks in watches.
Advising participants on the acquisition of new or better security technology, arranging professional trainers for staff training, advising on protection and the associated risk assessment are also part of the tasks. The special industry knowledge of the Alert Service is also called upon by public prosecutors’ offices and courts.
Warnings are sent out to all participants according to need and urgency or selectively by e-mail, taking into account different criteria. The participants are notified within a few minutes.
Since April 2000, pictures from the search for persons and objects have been made available on the Internet at www.warndienst.com under password protection. Access is only granted to participants of the Alert Service and police stations with a personal password.
Results/Experiences
Over the years, the Alert Service has been able to provide the police with decisive clues for solving crimes. Wanted persons could already be arrested at the (next) crime scene. Reason: “The perpetrators always go to jewellers and not to the police”.
The Alert Service was also able to contribute its expertise during (nationwide) search operations. It is important for prevention and the avoidance of further damage that findings about new working methods of the perpetrators are communicated to the endangered jewellers as quickly as possible. Only in this way can further attempted crimes be detected at an early stage by the employees who have been informed and scanned in this way, further damage can be avoided and a quick arrest of suspicious persons can be made possible through correct behaviour.
Become a member:
Terms and conditions of participation
The Jewellers’ Alert Service has been in existence for more than 40 years and has set itself the goal of networking companies in the jewellery and watch industry (including jewellers, goldsmiths, watchmakers, diamond and gemstone merchants, commercial agents, manufacturers, security service providers working for the industry, insurance companies in Germany and neighbouring countries, as well as their brokers) throughout Germany and Europe (Crime Prevention Network) in order to inform them about current crimes and criminals within the shortest possible time. This is done in cooperation with German and European police authorities as well as alert services in the Netherlands, France, England and the USA. In addition, we report on current new security technology and publish information for the daily security of your employees and your company.
This is necessary because today’s perpetrators are national and international travelling individual and group perpetrators who move their crime scenes across Europe by hundreds of kilometres in a very short time within a few hours due to the existing infrastructure. They are therefore difficult to identify for the security authorities and crime connections are often – if at all – difficult to prove.
The Jewellers’ Alert Service informs its members by regular e-mail newsletters in detail about crimes that are likely to be repeated (e.g. tricksters, fraudsters), about serious crimes (e.g. robbery, burglary) and the possibilities to protect oneself against these crimes and perpetrators. In addition, all offences that come to the attention of the Alert Service are published on the internet on a daily basis, password-protected for the subscribers, with additional information (situation pictures). This also includes the publication of perpetrator pictures and videos. Each subscriber chooses a personal password for the protected pages on the internet.
The cost of participation in the Jewellers’ Alert Service is just 14 €/mth. (as of 2023).
These costs consist of the contribution of 5.- € as well as a levy of 9.- €. Additional branches only pay the levy. (All prices plus VAT)
Law enforcement agencies in Germany and abroad can participate free of charge upon request!
If you would like to become a subscriber, please contact us.
I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.