With the unemployment rate on the rise due to Covid-19, crime is likely to increase as well. As citizens, we will have to be actively vigilant when it comes to opportunists. The chances of a smash-and-grab become quite possible when a motorist is not vigilant of their surroundings.
Criminals who perform smash-and-grabs work on the element of surprise. Before you know it, your window has been smashed into thousands of little pieces and your belongings taken.
As a motorist, how can one avoid this and what is there to look out for before becoming a victim to this crime?
What are they targeting?
The main targets for smash-and-grab thieves are your valuables which are easy to identify from outside your car. These items that are being targeted are quick and easy to sell. They include the following:
- Handbags, purses and wallets.
- Laptops, backpacks or briefcases.
- Shopping bags.
- Cell phones, tablets or GPS systems.
- Money.
- Keys.
How can smash-and-grabs be prevented?
Try and pay attention to signs where it says smash-and-grab hotspot, but it may not be possible to avoid these areas as these criminals target unsuspecting motorists. Try to make these sorts of crimes as difficult for criminals as possible.
With smash-and-grab criminals, they do not want difficult challenges when it comes to robbing someone. They want to be quick and swift without any hurdles in front of them.
What measures can be used to prevent these crimes?
Safe driving
- Make sure to lock your doors and close your windows while driving. Do not open your window or door for strangers.
- Try to avoid opening your window for street vendors or people handing out flyers.
- Be observant of who is around you when parked or stopped in traffic or at a robot.
- Be alert when it comes to suspicious characters.
- Watch out for people standing in the intersections. Criminals will blend in with these street vendors and use that to their advantage.
- If you ever come across rocks or tyres lying on the road, do not stop. Try and reverse safely and make a U-turn.
- When driving late at night, try to slowly drive up to a red light so that when it changes green, you do not have to stop.
- If you are in traffic and behind another car, leave a big enough gap for you to make a quick getaway if needed.
- Be vigilant of broken glass on the road at robots and intersections. There is a good chance that a smash-and-grab occurred there.
Reduce the attractions
- Remove any possessions that are visible to anybody walking past your car.
- Most smash-and-grab criminals work on impulse. They are not mastermind criminals.
- Leave your valuables like handbags, briefcases, laptops, wallets and cell phones either in the boot of your car or out of sight from these criminals.
Safe parking
- Criminals do target parking lots. Make sure to keep all valuables out of sight and make sure that your car is locked before leaving.
- When parking your car at night, make sure it is parked in a well-lit area.
- If you can, park your car where you can keep an eye on it or where there is a lot of pedestrian traffic or vehicles. Criminals do not like witnesses.
- When you are sitting in your parked car, always be vigilant of your surroundings.
- When your car is parked, make sure your car doors are locked, and windows rolled up.
- If your car has an alarm, remember to activate it before walking off.
- Consider fitting anti-smash-and-grab film to your vehicle (according to the law) to deter criminals from smash-and-grabbing you.
- Avoid using your glove box or centre console to lock-up your cell phone.
- Do not leave your car key on the dash or in the ignition. Do not hide keys in the sun visor or spare wheel well. Criminals are also aware of these hiding spots.
- Keep all your valuables and grocery bags in your car’s locked boot.
Please be safe and take care while you drive. Perhaps these tips have given you more peace of mind?
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This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.
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