Seattle Area Jeweler Adds Concealed Weapons Tech after Armed Robbery

Family owners held at gunpoint look to latest in walk through metal detection to stop violence before it starts 

Athena Security has announced that Aboud Jewelry, a multi-generational Ss, has added Athena’s fast, frictionless Entryway Security Solution to detect concealed weapons. Seattle-area small businesThe multi-sensor walk-through metal detector allows the family owners to quickly and accurately screen anyone entering the business before being allowed inside the store. The newly installed Athena Weapon Detection System immediately was deemed effective upon finding and preventing guns from entering the store.

“We understand that as a jewelry store we are a target for burglars, but with Athena Security’s concealed weapons detection system tech in place, our family and valued customers can rest assured that no one with a weapon is going to gain entry to the store,” said Alhareth Aboud, co-owner of Aboud Jewelers whose mother and father were held at gunpoint in the store in May.  “We’ve already had great success with the system alerting us to weapons two times in the first two weeks using the Athena product.”

Athena Security automatically tells the difference between a weapon and a cell phone, keys and watches, eliminating the need to divest items required by legacy metal detectors, a perfect solution for small businesses to deter and detect concealed weapons.

“This is exactly why we went into business, to help prevent gun violence before it happens,” said Michael Green, CEO of Athena Security.  “Our hearts went out when we heard that the Aboud family had a gun pulled on them, but we can do so much more than feel for small businesses, we can stop this from happening again, providing the safety and peace of mind we all deserve living and working in our local communities.”

In May, before the Athena Concealed Weapon Detection System was installed, a man walked into the store with a concealed weapon and after asking about the value of some gold jewelry, he pulled a gun on Alhareth’s mother and father.  Luckily the gunman fled once Alhareth's father started screaming and his mom hid. Now, the Athena Security system, along with a double set of reinforced doors, was installed the week prior to Memorial Day. Pain Field Airport, also located in Everett, WA, has deployed Athena Security åçto allow traffic to flow through security while scanning passengers and staff.

Aboud Jewelry is not shy about innovation, having added a vibration detector after a nighttime cat burglar cut an adjacent building's wall and used tools to snatch jewelry out of showcase boxes without even entering the room. High-value retail remains on high alert to improve security operations, security procedures and adopt cutting edge technology to reduce the risk of the loss of property, and the loss of life.

Featured

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”