As gold prices keep hitting record highs day after day, crimes targeting jewelry stores are also increasing, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based security solutions are emerging as an alternative. AI analyzes abnormal behavior in stores in real time to detect signs of crime in advance and immediately alert the store owner.
S-1 said on the 24th that as of January this year, new security contracts for jewelry stores increased 68% from a year earlier. Among existing customers, demand to upgrade security systems to AI-based solutions surged 180% over the same period.
S-1's AI security solution tailored for jewelry stores consists of "AI closed-circuit (CC) TV," which helps prevent theft crimes disguised as customers during business hours, a "UWB detector," which detects intruders late at night, and a "special compensation service," which provides post-incident compensation support.
S-1's SVMS (Smart Video Management System) is an AI-based intelligent video analytics solution that, unlike existing CCTVs that only recorded and were checked after the fact, analyzes footage in real time to proactively detect risk signs. SVMS automatically detects abnormal signs such as repeatedly pacing back and forth in front of the store and abnormally entering restricted areas. When abnormal behavior is detected, an alert is sent immediately to the store owner's smartphone, enabling preemptive action before the crime escalates, the company said.
S-1 also applied an ultra-wideband (UWB) detector to compensate for the limitations of conventional infrared sensors. UWB is a radar-type sensor technology that can detect movement beyond walls or obstacles, allowing precise detection of intruders hiding behind display stands and showcases that are hard to pick up with ordinary infrared sensors. In addition, by linking it with a glass-break detector so that an alarm is triggered immediately when an entrance door or showcase is damaged, a robust security system can be established.
Meanwhile, in Korea, the price of 1 don (3.75 g) of pure gold surpassed 1 million won for the first time ever on the 24th of last month. The price, which was in the 500,000-won range just a year ago, has doubled. According to Korean National Police Agency crime statistics, domestic theft crimes hit a record low of 160,251 in 2021, then turned upward to 183,534 in 2024. With the surge in gold prices, thieves are targeting stores that handle high-value goods, such as jewelry stores.