Highjacking and Smash and Grab Safety

Here are some of the most important tips Ensure that all your valuables out of sight. Rather keep them locked in the boot of your car. It may seem pretty obvious, but keep your doors locked at all times. Look out for suspicious behaviour at intersections and in traffic, particularly near bridges or embankments. Turning down your music can help keep you aware of your surroundings. Always leave a gap between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. This will give you room to maneuver away from any potential threats. Keep an eye out for any obstructions in the road such as rocks or large branches.

Drive around and don’t stop to move them. If you are driving an older model car, ensure make sure your boot is locked. A lot of opportunists try their luck with unlocked boots while moving through traffic. Consider fitting your windows with smash and grab film. If you don’t have smash and grab film on your windows, open your windows a small amount – this makes the glass more pliable and resistant to shattering. Don’t be a hero! If you are unfortunate enough to become a victim of a smash and grab, remember that your safety comes first. Don’t try to chase down the criminal as they may be armed or have accomplices close by – your handbag or phone simply is not worth risking your life.

These are some of the locations that are seeing the most smash and grab activity.

Johannesburg:

• Cnr Boeing and William Nicol
• Cnr William Nicol Drive and Main Road
• Cnr Joe Slovo Drive and Abel
• The bridge at the intersection of Bowling and Witkoppen
• The Grayston on ramp and off ramp in Sandton

Pretoria:

• Fountains Circle
• Cnr Nelson Mandela and Andries Street
• Cnr DF Malan and Bloed, Boom, Struben and Proes Street
• Cnr De Villa Bois and Garsfontein
• Cnr Struben and Du Toit Street
• Cnr Francina and Paul Kruger Street
• Cnr Jean Avenue and the N1 on ramp
• Stormvoel at the N1 north off ramp

Cape Town:

• Valhalla and Vanguard drives
• Jakkalsvlei and Vanguard

Durban:

• N2-M41 intersection coming off the N2 heading to either Mount Edgecombe or Umhlanga.
• The southern freeway as you approach the Victoria Embankment in the Durban city centre.
• The intersection of South Coast Road and Grimsby.
• The N2-Inanda intersection on both sides of the bridge and the traffic lights near the Engen garage in Riverside Road.

By following these simple tips, and staying vigilant, we can make 2015 a year of amazing new memories.