POLOKWANE – Motorists are urged to make their safety a priority when driving after a woman was mugged at the intersection of Biccard and Rissik Streets in town.

An eyewitness explains what happened:

According to Arrive Alive, thieves are usually after valuables which they can easily identify from outside the vehicle and sell as easily once removed from the possession of the motorists. Items targeted include:

• Purses, hand bags and wallets
• Laptop bags, briefcases and backpacks
• Shopping bags
• Cell phones, MP3 players and tablets
• Loose change and CDs
• Keys

Who are most vulnerable?

• The victims are most often single drivers with belongings on the passenger seat.
• Criminals tend to focus on female drivers well knowing that they are less likely to chase after them.
• Drivers who are distracted are most vulnerable – those busy on the cellular phone or with a cigarette in the hand.
• Vehicles left unattended away from the crowds and with valuables visible are easy targets for a quick smash-and-grab.

Methods used and Modus Operandi

• Criminals will focus on those areas where they know traffic is often congested and where vehicles will remain stationary for a while.
• These criminals also will often work in pairs where one will pose as a vendor, distracting the attention of the driver while the other party will perform the smash –and-grab from the passenger side.
• Objects are sometimes placed on the road and motorists make the mistake of leaving their vehicles to remove these objects. This is when the vehicles are then easily targeted.
• Communication technology such as cellular phones has also enabled these criminals to identify potential victims from a bridge or position of elevation and to relay this message to their partners in crime further along the road.
• The person making the smash and grab will most likely select the scene of the crime as an area where a fast getaway would be possible for him and any pursuit would be difficult.

Here are some safety tips that motorists can take note of:

• Lock all your doors and close the windows when driving – Never open vehicle windows or doors for strangers.
• Avoid opening your windows or getting involved in discussions with street vendors or anyone handing out flyers.
• Be constantly on the lookout for suspicious looking characters.
• Always be conscious of your surroundings and remain alerted when coming to an intersection or stopping your vehicle.
• Be wary of people standing at intersections – They may be innocent but perpetrators mix with these people while waiting for an opportunity to pounce.
• If you encounter obstacles such as rocks or tyres do not get out of your vehicle to remove them -immediately reverse and drive off in the opposite direction.
• If it’s late at night, slow down well in advance so that the light changes green by the time you reach the intersection.
• Leave a gap between you and the car in front of you to give you room to escape (i.e. drive away from the scene), if anything should happen. 
• Be especially wary whenever you see broken glass lying on the road. If the pieces of glass are still scattered across the road, chances are that a smash and grab occurred just recently.

Remember, a cautious driver will be able to prevent most incidents of smash-and-grab. If there is nothing to grab there is no reason for the window to be smashed.

anne@nmgroup.co.za