Police revealed this week which four intersections in the east of Pretoria are being targeted the most by smash-and-grab criminals.
They are the corners of Garsfontein and N1; Atterbury and N1; Atterbury and Lois; Rigel and the N1.
“Women driving on their own were mostly targeted,” said police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach.
Weilbach said the smash-and-grab attacks either happened early in the morning or after dark.
This is after several theft-out-of-motor-vehicle incidents were reported in recent weeks at traffic lights while motorists were stationary.
In all of the cases, suspects smashed the car window and went after laptops, cellphones and handbags that were left in full sight on car seats.
She said Brooklyn police arrested 23 so-called “source of danger” pedestrians during crime prevention operations last month.
The arrests were part of an action plan to reduce such attacks at traffic lights.
ALSO READ: Garsfontein police confirm smash and grabs at intersection
She said attackers were not always beggars or hawkers at street corners.
“Sometimes the robbers are dropped off at intersections and picked up again afterwards.”
The Brooklyn station has also kicked off a campaign for residents to ‘boot it or lose it’.
The campaign encourages motorists to put away all their valuables in their car boots before travelling.
“Items are left on car seats or underneath car seats draw the attention of criminals,” said Weilbach.
“The car boot is always a safer option – hence boot it or lose it.”
She added motorists must be on the lookout for suspicious-looking persons at intersections and should not hesitate reporting them to the police.
“When approaching a red traffic light at night, slow down so that you only reached it when it turns green and therefore you do not need to stop,” said Weilbach.
Police are also regularly patrolling the N4 highway, she said.
This follows a report of robbers putting sharp objects and obstacles intentionally on the highway to force motorists to stop so as to rob them of their valuables.
ALSO READ: Man injured in East ‘smash and grab’ attempt
Five motorists have recently reported their tyres being damaged this way on a single day, according to private security company Kapanga.
On the evening in question, Wednesday 27 March, only one of the motorists was robbed.
A woman driving eastbound towards Bronkhorstspruit drove over an object that damaged her two tyres a few kilometres before the Diamond Hill toll gate.
“She drove through the toll gate to the Rose petrol station to assess the damage and get help changing the tyres,” said Kapanga.
“At the station, she met four other motorists who also had damaged tyres, including a brand-new Audi with irreparable damage to all its tyres and wheels.
“Fortunately, they were not robbed because they didn’t stop.”
ALSO READ: East woman robbed of jewellery in smash-and-grab incident
However, another motorist who stopped to call a towing service after his tyres were damaged was not so lucky.
“By the time the service arrived, the motorist had already been robbed.”
Police spokesperson Constable Connie Moganedi said they were aware of the problem and were monitoring the road regularly.
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