The Diamond District located in the heart of midtown Manhattan on 47th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues is home to more than approximately 2,600 independent jewelry stores brimming with precious- and semi-precious stones, silver and gold. New York City, including the Diamond District, is also home to more than 15,000 surveillance cameras operated by private-security firm SW24 Security, New York, which was founded and is staffed by decorated veteran law enforcement professionals from the New York City Police and Fire Departments, among other security experts. These cameras are accessible by NYC-area first responders as part of the SW24 Citywide Safety Initiative.
The tens of millions of dollars in diamonds and other stones that are changing hands in the most informal ways on a daily basis in this district make it a target for criminals. “There are over 3,000 different companies and related businesses that have very specific security needs,” said Jay Stuck, SW24’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, who also serves on the National Crime Prevention Council’s board of directors. “We meet those needs by maintaining a presence right in the middle of it all.”