Stay one step ahead of thieves: Smash-and-grab tips for motorists

Within the rush to attain that particular Black Friday or Christmas deal, consumers could also be tempted to dump their purchases on the automotive seat beside them, wanting to get to the following retailer.

Nonetheless, seen procuring baggage and different valuables turn into straightforward targets for thieves, and a smash-and-grab theft is a standard approach that they make use of.

Sadly, as motorists, it’s not at all times potential to keep away from theft hotspots, so maintain the acronym SMASH in thoughts to guard your belongings and preserve your vacation cheer.

• S: SurpriseWhen it involves a smash-and-grab, thieves use the aspect of shock to their benefit. It should take a little bit of time for even the quickest individuals to react, permitting the thieves the chance to get away.

Additionally, the perpetrators select spots with easy accessibility and escape, and infrequently work in groups to distract motorists or to tell accomplices positioned down the highway of straightforward targets. As well as, there is no such thing as a explicit sample to their exercise.

The crimes are dedicated at any time of the day, in busy intersections or quiet streets, when a automobile is at a standstill or in slow-moving site visitors. Subsequently, as a motorist, it’s best to take steps to forestall being taken without warning.

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• M: MicronsInstall a protecting movie in your automobile’s home windows as a precautionary measure towards smash-and-grab incidents. Whereas it could not essentially stop a smash-and-grab, it could possibly be a deterrent.

The trade advice is a 200-micron two-ply system which not solely prevents glass from shattering throughout you however slows entry to your automobile. This could offer you sufficient time to get away.

Additionally, a tinted safety will help with blocking warmth and UV rays. Be cautious, as a result of not all window tints provide smash-and-grab safety, and a few movies are merely shatterproof.

Nonetheless, even a tint as much as the authorized restrict might act as a deterrent, as a result of the criminals wouldn’t know whether it is anti-smash-and-grab.

In case you don’t have a movie in your home windows, leaving your window open about 3cm will make it extra versatile and fewer liable to shattering.

• A: AvoidHaving a protecting movie in your automobile’s home windows doesn’t imply you’ll be able to turn into complacent. Don’t make it straightforward for criminals – keep away from driving along with your valuables in plain sight.

Thieves wish to seize cellphones, wallets, purses, laptops, baggage, jewelry and different high-value objects.Keep away from leaving these items on the seat or the ground. They’re higher saved within the boot, below the seats or in automobile storage compartments.

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Even inconspicuous objects like a jacket mendacity on the seat might lead to a smash for what appears like a precious merchandise or might maintain a precious merchandise like a pockets.

Whenever you park your automobile, it’s best to park your automotive in a well-lit, correctly secured parking space, ideally with safety guards on responsibility. Additionally, lock the doorways and shut the home windows earlier than strolling away.

• S: Protected drivingIt is vital to drive defensively and with out distraction. Staying alert and being vigilant about your environment whereas driving might provide help to stop an incident.

Even trying alert could be sufficient to dissuade potential criminals. Keep away from the distraction of speaking, texting, or scrolling by way of updates in your cell phone. Be notably alert in site visitors and at intersections, whether or not driving slowly or at a cease.

Watch out of partaking with road distributors or individuals handing out flyers, as a result of along with your automobile’s window down, you might be extra susceptible to an assault.

When approaching a purple site visitors mild, particularly at night time or in darkish areas, decelerate so that you simply solely attain the site visitors mild when it turns inexperienced. Go away a niche between your automobile and the one in entrance of you to get away.

Plenty of glass on the highway signifies a smash-and-grab hotspot. Additionally, look out for the SAPS crime hotspot indicators and alerts from group watch teams and stay conscious in these areas.

Don’t get out of your automobile to take away obstacles within the highway, slightly drive round them or flip round and drive off.

• H: HelpShould an incident happen, report it to the authorities – the data may help them in figuring out and apprehending the perpetrators.

Additionally, contact the Crime Cease, a SAPS toll-free quantity, to anonymously report felony actions on 08600 10111 or ship an nameless SMS to Crime Line at 32211.

Dropping your belongings in a automobile theft is hectic and inconvenient, and all of us want somebody to lean on when issues go unsuitable.

Monitoring companies and insurance coverage suppliers provide companies that provide help to get again on observe after an incident by way of theft help packs and trauma counselling.

“Stay vigilant; thieves are more than likely to strike when you have got dropped your guard. The perpetrators have gotten brazen, and smash and grabs can occur anyplace, at any time,” says Duma Ngcobo, COO at Tracker.