Jewellers in Edinburgh are fighting back against raiders who have stolen millions of pounds worth of gems in a series of violent raids.
Key stores are to share intelligence and liaise closely with police and business leaders following a number of high profile raids by armed gangs on city centre jewellers, and a number who have been hit have already signed up.
In March Michael Hood, 32, was found guilty of stealing watches and jewellery worth £1.3 million from Hamilton & Inches in the city and sentenced to eight years.
One gang that raided an RBS in Edinburgh also struck in Glasgow. CCTV footage and photographs showed them smashing their way into display cabinets to grab their haul in the Argyll Arcade and stealing £230,000 of goods from the Rox. The gang got 40 years.
The Gold Watch scheme has been launched in the city centre by the Business Improvement District company Essential Edinburgh in collaboration with Police Scotland, the Scottish Business Resilience Centre and jewellers.
Eight have already signed up have signed up, with others due to complete the paperwork over the next few weeks.
Gold Watch follows similar schemes aimed at tackling shoplifting - Check Out - and hotel crime - Check In.
The scheme will see the retailers and police share information and intelligence to prevent potential raids.
Roddy Smith, chief executive of Essential Edinburgh, said: “The initiative for this came from the jewellers themselves, and they asked what might be done.
"We have seen similar schemes, based on sharing and pooling information quickly, have a real impact in cutting down on shoplifting and on hotel crime in the BID area, and we are very hopeful that this scheme will also help provide early warning and the ability to reduce the issues faced by jewellers, with Essential Edinburgh covering the cost.”
Mandy Haeburn-Little, director of the Scottish Business Resilience Centre, said: “We are genuinely delighted to be supporting the excellent work of Gold Watch.
“In particular we commend Essential Edinburgh for the preventative action they have taken, thinking ahead as to how best to support the business community and making sure that both employees and customers are safe.
"This is an excellent model of practice and will be yet another way to ensure that the City of Edinburgh is a safe and attractive place to shop.
“We wish Goldwatch every success for the future."
Chief Superintendent Mark Williams, Police Scotland’s divisional commander for Edinburgh, said: "Following on from the success of the Check In and Check Out schemes, where information and intelligence is shared amongst hotel premises and retail outlets, I am delighted to support the launch of Gold Watch.
"This initiative has been driven by our city centre Jewellers, in partnership with Essential Edinburgh, the Scottish Business Resilience Centre and Police Scotland, and is designed to share information and intelligence in real-time to assist in the prevention and detection of theft and robbery."
"It's a great example of local businesses working together to ensure Edinburgh City Centre remains a safe place to visit, work and shop."
The jewellers already signed up are Alistir Wood Tait, Goodwin Antiques, Daniel Henderson, Palenque (all Rose St), Hamilton & Inches, Rox (both George St), Laing the Jewellers and MacIntyres of Edinburgh (both Frederick St).
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