$300,000 Lost in Surrey Robbery: How Businesses Can Prevent Business Theft

Running a business is never easy. In Surrey, one jewellers store owner learned just how devastating crime can be when thieves made off with a safe containing $300,000 worth of gold.

Inside the Heist

On Easter Sunday, thieves broke into Damas Jewellery on 146 Street and 108 Avenue. The operation was anything but simple.
The suspects entered through the roof, gained access to another business’s bathroom, and cut a hole into the jewellery store. Once inside, they tampered with the cameras, turning them toward the wall to avoid being caught on video. They remained in the store from 2 a.m. until 7 a.m., undetected, before triggering the back-door alarm as they left. Since they couldn’t open the safe, they took the entire thing with them and loaded it into a vehicle. By the time the alarm went off, it was too late. The safe and the valuables inside were gone.
Worse, the store owner had just let his insurance lapse during a transition between providers. That meant every dollar of loss was his to bear.

The Cost of Crime

For the owner, Tamim Al Zein, the loss wasn’t just financial. With his insurance policy expired just days earlier, he was left to absorb the full $300,000 hit.
More than the money, though, was the fear. Al Zein admitted he was hesitant to re-open his business, noting that two other jewellery stores in Surrey had been robbed around the same time with one case even involving gunfire.
“It’s hard opening a business knowing that the city is not safe anymore,” he said.

Lessons for Business Owners

This robbery shows how organized and determined criminals can be. Breaking in through a roof, spending hours inside, and removing an entire safe required planning, tools, and knowledge of the building.
For business owners, the takeaway are:

• Standard cameras and alarms aren’t always enough.
• Criminals are increasingly sophisticated and can work around basic systems.
• Without insurance or proactive protection, the losses can be devastating.

What Businesses Can Do to Stay Ahead

The Damas Jewellery break-in shows how criminals exploit every vulnerability. Here’s how Excalibur’s services could have prevented or mitigated the theft:

On-Site Security Guards

Case Insight: Thieves spent nearly five hours inside Damas Jewellery undetected.
How Guards Help: Trained and licensed professionals deter criminal activity before it happens. Guards present during off-hours could have noticed suspicious behavior or responded immediately to alarms, potentially stopping the theft before the safe was removed.
Excalibur Advantage: Our guards are fully trained in surveillance, emergency response, and risk assessment. They provide a visible and active presence, patrolling your property, monitoring for suspicious activity, and responding immediately if a breach occurs.

Mobile Patrols

Case Insight: Thieves entered through the roof and adjacent business spaces.
How Patrols Help: Regular patrols spot unusual behavior early, secure secondary access points like roofs or shared areas, and act as a visible deterrent. Patrols could have identified the break-in attempt before thieves gained access.
Excalibur Advantage: Our mobile teams conduct scheduled and randomized patrols, covering all entrances, roofs, and shared spaces. They also coordinate with on-site staff to ensure no part of your property is left unmonitored. Static guard and mobile patrols offer similar security but have different advantages and disadvantages, to know more we have a blog covering this topic, Mobile patrol vs Static Guards.

Alarm Response & Monitoring

Case Insight: The alarm was only triggered at the back door, hours after thieves entered.
How Monitoring Helps: Real-time monitoring ensures immediate response. A security team monitoring the alarms could have notified police while thieves were still inside, reducing losses significantly.
Excalibur Advantage: We provide 24/7 alarm monitoring with instant alerts to law enforcement and rapid on-site response. Our system ensures alarms aren’t just notifications — they trigger immediate action.

Loss Prevention & Risk Assessment

Case Insight: Thieves exploited building vulnerabilities and camera blind spots.
How Assessment Helps: Excalibur identifies physical weaknesses, from unsecured entrances to blind spots in surveillance. For Damas Jewellery, a risk assessment could have led to reinforced doors, additional sensors, and adjusted patrol routes to minimize risk.
Excalibur Advantage: Our team conducts comprehensive assessments tailored to your property and operations. We pinpoint vulnerabilities, recommend upgrades, and implement measures that prevent criminal activity before it occurs.

Customized Security Solutions

Case Insight: Every business has unique vulnerabilities; generic security measures are often insufficient.

How Custom Plans Help: Excalibur develops security strategies tailored to your property, industry, and risk profile. This ensures practical, proactive steps — like combining patrols, camera coverage, and alarm monitoring — that actually prevent incidents rather than just reacting afterward.
Excalibur Advantage: We create fully customized security plans for retail stores, offices, warehouses, and events. From scheduling guards to integrating technology and monitoring, our solutions match the unique risks your business faces.

How Excalibur Helps

At Excalibur Security Services, we work with businesses across Surrey and Vancouver facing exactly these risks. Our services include:

• Loss prevention specialists trained to deter theft.
• Patrol and guard services for high-risk locations.
• Concierge and access control for commercial or residential buildings.
• Emergency response teams ready when incidents occur.

The Damas Jewellery case is a reminder that security isn’t just about equipment — it’s about trained professionals, proactive planning, and tailored solutions that protect your business when it matters most.