These numbers are expected to rise during the festive period. Midrand police spokesperson Matome Tlamela said a woman parked her car, a Toyota Verso, at Sanridge Square on 8 November. She locked closed windows, locked her car and went to do her grocery shopping.
“When she returned she noticed that the driver’s seat had been moved but did not think much of it. She drove home and when she arrived she noticed that her laptop and iPod with an estimated value of R7 500 were missing from her car.” Tlamela said in another case, jewellery with an estimate value of R52 000 was stolen from a vehicle that was parked at Boulders Shopping mall on 12 November.
Spokesperson for Miway, Cleona van der Sandt said that at times insurance companies refuse to pay out for theft out of vehicles. “Insurance companies check all details before approving a claim. At the moment Miway and many insurance companies do not have tailor-made insurance for such unfortunate incidents. Most insurers do not cover theft out of motor vehicles when there are no visible signs of forced entry.”
After parking at a shopping centre, or any area, make sure that:
- All doors are locked and windows are closed.
- All personal item such as laptops, cellphones, ipods and ipads are not left lying on car seats.
- After locking the car with a remote, check manually that it is locked.
- Do not leave grocery or shopping bags on car seats.
How to limit smash and grab chances:
- Put anti-smash-and-grab window tinting.
- Lock the car and do not rely on the word of car guards that they will watch your car for you.
- Do not leave your car parked at a shopping centre for long periods of time without checking on it.
- Do not use your cellphone at robots and intersections or at night in parking lots.
