Tucson News NowBig bucks spent on security to guard expensive gems and minerals

Millions of dollars worth of precious jewels, crystals, and rocks are on display in Tucson for the next few weeks.

Dealers have shipped in some of their finest items to showcase, for the annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil show.

Business owners are spending thousands of dollars to make sure their items are well protected through the night, while they are trying to get some sleep.

Off duty police officers and sheriff's deputies are hired by many of the business owners to guard their treasures through the night.

Most of the dealers leave their wares in the display cases and on the warehouse floor through the night. 

KOLD News 13 was there during closing time at the JG&M Gem and Mineral Expo.

Most of the dealers simply covered up their beads, baubles, rocks, and minerals with tarp.

Those with high end items, took a little more time, counting every piece as they boxed it away before sending it off into a secure vault, guarded by armed officers.

Raju Rasiah, the owner of Sri Lanka Gemstones, Intl. showed us some of his high end items on display.

They included a 17-carat yellow diamond ring worth $1.2 Million, a 48-carat Sri Lankan yellow Sapphire ring worth $75,000, and an Alexandrite ring worth $72,000.

Rasiah said he had no qualms about leaving his high priced jewelery behind when he went back to his hotel room for the night.

"We leave it in a security locker, and they guard it all night.  We have had no incidents in the few years I have been here, I feel safe and secure."

Kent Monen, who was show-casing vintage jewelery dating back to the 1800's said anyone who tried to break in would be in for a nasty surprise.

Armed deputies, and vicious dogs protected the property.

"They might as well try to break into Fort Knox," said Monken.

Danny Duke, the owner of Gemstone Mineral Interiors said they paid big bucks to hire off duty deputies for the show.  They stayed at the Expo hall 24 hours a day.

Sgt. Mark Bustamante of the Pima County Sheriff's Office said they had deputies patrolling the outside perimeter of the building at undisclosed times through the night.  They also had several deputies inside the warehouse all night, until the doors opened in the morning.

A caretaker with a vicious guard dog also stayed on the premises through the night.