HOUSTON -- Bold gangs of jewelry thieves flock to Houston and other cities across the United States to do business, and when you couple that with home grown copycats, suddenly being a jewelry salesman becomes one of the most dangerous jobs in America.
Detective Jeff Brieden, with HPD s Robbery Division, said the latest case in the Houston area involves a salesman we'll call Greg, because he was too afraid to reveal his identity.
I opened my door and they pulled up behind me real fast and jumped out. One guy had a gun, Greg said.
What happened to Greg in July, outside this Cash America store on Telephone was all caught by surveillance cameras.
I had the keys in my hand and they knocked me down and they grabbed the keys, said Greg.
But when they grabbed his keys the key chain broke and the remote to Greg's car stayed in his hand.
Unbelievable, my other keys were all over the parking lot, Greg said.
So then, as the suspects were about to drive away, Greg did the unthinkable and got his jewelry, worth tens of thousands of dollars, back.
I hit the button and I reached in and grabbed my bag and they hit me with the car backing out and then they took off, Greg said.
He could have been killed.
I figured they would see me and turn around and come back so I ran back into the pawn shop with my bag, Greg said.
But they didn't notice.
Very fortunate to be here, Greg said.
The Jewelers' Security Alliance says that crimes against U.S. jewelers in 2009 cost them nearly $100 million. And most robberies of jewelry sales people take place in broad daylight, putting innocent bystanders at risk.
Here in Houston one salesman was attacked and robbed while he was eating lunch at a Waffle House. Another victim was attacked while getting gas at Kirby and Bissonnet.
And then there was the scary incident outside a Galleria hotel two years ago. Shots were fired during that robbery.
Greg saud he's been robbed twice.
If anybody recognizes them there is money in Crime Stoppers. They can call, Brieden said.
Brieden said he believes the men were following Greg, or they were tipped off to his whereabouts.
You constantly watch to see if you re followed because they follow you forever, said Greg.
And without the public s help police said they're hard to catch.
The gangs often use phony identities, rental cars, and sophisticated surveillance techniques.
In an incident in Rice Village the suspects even slashed the salesman's tires so he couldn't follow them.
In Greg's case, he didn't have to follow. He risked his life to make sure the suspects left without his precious jewels.
I mean without it my life would be kind of a sad rat, Greg said.
Perhaps, but police say he's lucky to be alive.
