How to Avoid Smash-and-Grab: Protect Your Vehicle on the Go
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Losing your vehicle is one thing, but having your personal belongings stolen from it is another. With smash-and-grabs on the rise, the last thing you want is for your belongings to land in the wrong hands.
See what South Africa’s numbers on smash-and-grabs are
Delve into the top smash-and-grab hotspots and tactics
Unpack the top tips for preventing smash-and-grabs
Discover how Cartrack’s solutions can help give your vehicle an extra layer of protection from theft
What is a smash-and-grab?
Having your phone on your windscreen while you’re jamming in traffic sounds like a dream, right? Or what about having your purse on your passenger seat for convenience's sake? These are innocent things that may be the last thing you think about when you’re on the road, but unfortunately, they make you a target for smash-and-grabs. A smash-and-grab is a robbery where a thief breaks your vehicle’s window to steal anything they can quickly get their hands on. We know hijackings are at an all-time high in South Africa, but how high are smash-and-grab numbers? Let’s find out.
What are the numbers on smash-and-grabs telling us?
This puts into perspective how smash-and-grab numbers aren’t just high; they’re rising by the year. Unfortunately, most times, it’s our own behaviour that causes these numbers to increase.
What puts you at risk of a smash-and-grab?
Could your innocent actions be putting you at risk of a smash-and-grab? What you see as something small and unimportant could be seen as an open invitation for thieves. These behaviours include:
Having your valuables on display:
Arrive Alive said it best; “If there is nothing to grab, there is no reason for the window to be smashed.” If you leave items like your purse or cell phone on full display, thieves see this as an open invitation to steal them. You know that spacious boot the car dealership sold you when you bought your car? Use it. The main thing is to keep them completely hidden. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
Leaving your windows open:
Nothing is as incredible as the fresh breeze blowing into your vehicle as you drive down the N2. However,an open window increases the risk of a smash-and-grab happening. When your windows are open, a thief's job is easier because they don’t have to worry about smashing them. This easy access makes taking your belongings even more tempting for them.
Being stuck in traffic:
Nobody likes being stuck in traffic. But for thieves, this is a dream. When vehicles are stuck in the same spot for a long time, thieves have enough time to look inside them to see what valuables are on display. Being stuck in traffic also means you can’t quickly drive away the moment your window is smashed in, making the job easier for thieves.
Being distracted while driving:
Smoking a cigarette on your way home may seem like the ideal way to “take the edge off," but this distracted driving makes it easier for thieves to steal your belongings. Distracted driving means you’re not completely aware of your surroundings, so you can’t tell if someone is approaching your vehicle or circling it to see what valuables you have inside.
It’s the small things that invite thieves to feel entitled to your belongings. Now that we’ve explored what increases your risk of facing a smash-and-grab, let’s look at what items thieves are on the lookout for.
What are the key things being targeted?
Most times, if it’s resellable, it’s stealable. Thieves don’t just go for one thing; they have an entire catalogue of items on their hit list. Let’s look at the top 3:
Handbags, wallets, and purses:
Nobody wants to leave their car just to get their card from the boot to buy petrol, so it's understandable that you’ll keep your wallet or purse on your passenger seat. But this convenience puts your safety at risk. These items are small and easy to grab, making them an easy target for thieves.
Laptop bag:
Do you find yourself jumping straight into your car after a long day at work and throwing your laptop bag on your seat? You might want to stop because thieves want to get their hands on your laptop. Reselling a stolen laptop is quite easy, so don’t make yourself a target by leaving your laptop on full display.
Cellphones:
Do you have your cell phone hooked up to your windscreen? This might seem like a safe alternative to using your phone while driving, but it puts your cell phone on full display for thieves. As soon as a thief spots your cell phone on your windscreen or dashboard, they are ready to leap and get their hands on it.
These being the most targeted items is proof that dynamite truly does come in small packages. While smash-and-grabs can happen anywhere, there are a few hotspots where you should be extra cautious. Let’s find out what these are and help you unlock safer trips.
Smash-and-grab tactics and hotspots to look out for
Before we look at the tactics being used for smash-and-grabs, let’s explore the major hotspots you need to keep an eye out for in the big cities:
Johannesburg
William Nicol Drive offramp
Old Pretoria Road and 1st Avenue in Alexandra
Christiaan de Wet Road and Wilgerood Road in Roodepoort
Parkwood and Saxonworld in Rosebank
Upper Houghton and Killarney in Hillbrow
Durban
N2 off-ramp towards Gateway
Southern freeway approaching the Victoria Embankment in the Durban city centre
Traffic lights near Engen garage on Riverside Road
Intersection of South Coast Road
Pretoria
Lynnwood Road offramp
John Vorster Drive in Lyttelton
Corner of University Road in Hatfield
Nelson Mandela Drive in Sunnyside
The Atterbury Road in Menlyn
Cape Town
Jakes Gerwel Drive
Stellenbosch Arterial Road
Robert Sobukwe Road
35th Avenue
Jan Smuts Road
Now that we know which areas to keep an extra eye out for, let’s get into the tactics criminals use for smash-and-grabs.
Striking in peak-hour traffic:
What was once a minor inconvenience that made you miss your favourite team’s rugby match is now a dangerous game to play. Traffic lights are considered a hotspot for smash-and-grabs, and this has been worsened by loadshedding.
The beggar trick:
It’s normal for the same suspicious person to walk past your vehicle multiple times, right? Wrong, because this is a clear sign of someone scouting your vehicle.Gauteng police have revealed a new tactic thieves use to scout your vehicle for valuables. They will act like beggars or vendors as a way to look inside your vehicle without raising any suspicions. So don’t fall victim to this facade.
Drive-through smash-and-grabs:
Whether the kids are nagging you for burgers or you just want to skip the queues, a drive-through is the peak of convenience when you’re craving takeaways. Unfortunately, criminals have started targeting people who are waiting for their food at drive-throughs. Since you’re essentially stuck between two vehicles, you become an easy target for criminals. Not being able to flee the scene or chase after the criminal makes the robbery seem like an easy job.
Sometimes, rush hour traffic is unavoidable, and picking up a quick bite on the way home can be tempting. So, what can you do in these situations? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Let’s explore what you can do to protect yourself from smash-and-grabs.
How can you prevent smash-and-grabs?
As we said earlier, sometimes it's our own behaviour that increases our risk of facing a smash-and-grab. The upside of this is that it means our behaviour can also lower the risk. Here are a few things you can do to prevent smash-and-grabs:
Leave your valuables hidden:
We know you love to show off your iPhone with the customised cover your husband got you, but that doesn’t mean it should be out on display for criminals to see. Your valuables being on display is an open invitation to thieves, and they will honour that invitation.
As inconvenient as it may be, your best bet is to leave your valuables in your boot or hidden under your car seat. When your valuables are hidden, criminals won’t have a reason to break into your vehicle.
Avoid distractions while driving:
The reason why you need to stay focused and aware of your surroundings is so that you can quickly spot someone scouting your vehicle. The faster you spot this, the faster you can leave the scene or make sure your valuables are hidden. So put that phone away! Finding out how your brother crashed your parent’s car over the weekend can wait until you get home.
Keep doors locked and windows closed:
Open windows are an open invitation to thieves because you’re making their job easier for them. Also, if they scout your vehicle and see that red sticker on your door handles indicating they are unlocked, they won’t hesitate to jump at the opportunity.
Leave enough room between you and the car in front of you:
In the event that your window is smashed in, you should leave enough space to drive off and flee the scene before thieves get their hands on your valuables.
Consider getting your windows tinted:
Having tinted windows is no longer something that’s only for the cool and rich; it is now a safety measure you should consider. With tinted windows, you are guaranteed that criminals won’t be able to peep into your car and spot anything worthy of being stolen. This gives you an added layer of security, keeping you and your valuables safe.
These are all small changes that have a big impact on the safety of your valuables. But a little extra protection to supplement your actions can’t hurt, right? And who better than Cartrack to provide you with that protection?
When you’re faced with a smash-and-grab, grabbing your phone to call for help is the last thing on your mind.This is why we created our panic button. We install our panic button in a hidden place, like your seatbelt or your car seat. In an emergency like a smash-and-grab, pressing your panic button instantly sends a silent alert to our 24-hour control room. Once we receive this alert, our team will try to get a hold of you, and if you don’t answer, we will try to contact your emergency contacts. If we can’t make contact, we will dispatch our recovery team to your vehicle’s location to ensure you and your vehicle are safe and sound.
While smash-and-grabs happen while you’re inside your vehicle, this isn’t the only time your valuables can be stolen. The moment a criminal spots an empty vehicle with valuables, they may choose to take off with your vehicle, too. This means you need to give your vehicle an extra level of security, even when you’re not in it. You may ask, “How can I actually keep an eye on my vehicle when I’m not close to it?” The answer is pretty simple: gift your vehicle with CarWatch, its personal virtual car guard.
CarWatch:
CarWatch is just what the doctor ordered for peace of mind. This convenient and user-friendly feature on our app is an early warning security system that detects and reports unauthorised vehicle activity. Whether it’s a suspicious movement or your ignition is switched on, the moment this activity is detected, you will receive an instant alert via the app and SMS. Our 24-hour control room also receives an alert and immediately calls you to confirm if everything is in order or if they need to dispatch our highly trained recovery team to retrieve your stolen vehicle.
So if your vehicle falls victim to theft, we’ll immediately know about it and hopefully recover it in no time. With an above 90% recovery rate, you can rest assured that we’ll do everything in our power to get your vehicle back to you in no time.
Trust Cartrack to protect your vehicles while you protect your belongings
While Cartrack can’t directly help prevent a smash-and-grab from taking place, we give you solutions that give your vehicle an added layer of security. In times of danger, we promise to rush to your side, assuring you that you are never alone.
Contact us today, and keep your vehicle and valuables safe with Cartrack.
Discover how to safeguard yourself and your possessions amidst rising hijacking and smash-and-grab incidents in South Africa.
