How to avoid smash-and-grabs in South Africa

A smash-and-grab is a harrowing experience that no motorists should go through, but the unfortunate reality is that they are a daily occurrence in South Africa.

According to the South African Police Services (SAPS) latest crime data report, a total of 19,032 “theft out of or from motor vehicle” incidents were reported in the fourth quarter of the 2024/2025 period.

This means that approximately 211 cars were broken into between January and March 2025.

In light of this, road users are urged to adopt good habits and take proactive measures to avoid becoming the victim of a smash-and-grab.

Even if you find yourself in this situation, there are still actions you can take to protect yourself and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Safe practices

The private security and vehicle recovery company Tracker has provided helpful advice for motorists to avoid smash-and-grabs, summarized in an easy-to-remember acronym.

The acronym is called SMASH, which stands for the following:

Surprise

Microns

Avoid

Safe driving

Help

SURPRISE

• Criminals typically rely on the element of surprise to execute their plans.
• Once they’ve identified a target, they will often rush at the car, break the window, grab whatever they can, and sprint away, all within a matter of seconds.
• For this reason, perpetrators choose areas that can mask their approach and an easy escape route.
• At other times, they may rely on accomplices to distract the driver while they approach the car from another direction.
• Consequently, it’s best to avoid quiet an unlit streets, and avoid slow-moving traffic in high-risk areas to avoid being taken by surprise.

MICRONS

• Microns refers to the protective film that vehicle owners can install on their window.
• While this film doesn’t stop the window from being shattered by a thief, it can hold the fragments together to prevent glass from spilling all over the occupants.
• It also creates an obstacle that the criminal now has to get past, buying a few extra seconds that can make all the difference for the victim to get away.
• The industry recommendation is a 200-micron two-ply system.

AVOID

• “Avoid” means making it as difficult as possible for criminals to target you.
• We’ve already touched on avoiding dangerous areas, but this step also refers to the habit of not leaving valuables in plain sight.
• Phones, wallets, purses, laptops, bags, jewellery and other high-value items should not be left on the seat or car floor.
• Instead, they should be hidden in the boot or a vehicle storage compartment.
• This applies to when you are driving, as well as when the car is parked in a public area.
• This even applies to items like jackets, as criminals may still try their luck in the hope that something like a wallet has been left in one of the pockets.
• When leaving your car, it’s best to leave it in a secure area, preferably somewhere that is enclosed, well-lit, and has security guards on duty.

SAFE DRIVING

• “Safe driving” is an extension of the first step that urges motorists to be more vigilant on the roads.
• Pay attention to your surroundings, and avoid behaviour that makes it look like you are distracted, such as talking, texting, and looking away from the road.
• Tracker advises that you don’t engage with street vendors, and time your approaches to red lights so you ideally see it turn green before coming to a complete stop.
• Broken glass on the road is a tell-tale sign that the area is a smash-and-grab hotspot, but you should also pay attention to the SAPS database and community alerts to avoid certain areas.
• Don’t stop to remove obstacles in the road. Rather drive around them or immediately turn your car around and drive in the other direction.

HELP

• The last point, Help, means that you should urgently report the crime to the nearest police station, as this information needs to be delivered promptly for the authorities to identify and catch the perpetrators.
• You can anonymously report criminal activities on 08600 10111, or send an anonymous SMS to Crime Line at 32211

“Remain vigilant at all times, thieves are most likely to strike when you have dropped your guard,” says Duma Ngcobo, Chief Operating Officer at Tracker.

“The perpetrators are becoming brazen, and smash and grabs can happen anywhere and at any time. Follow the above tips to reduce the risk of a smash and grab situation.”

AUTHOR: Michael Taylor | www.topauto.co.za