Smash-and-grab incidents are on the rise in Cape Town again, with the police and local law enforcement warning motorists to be vigilant when driving in certain areas where this type of crime is rife at the moment.

Cape Town police say they have seen a spike in smash-and-grab incidents along 35th Street and Owen Road, in Avonwood and 35th Street, Epping Avenue and 35th Street, Norwood and Francie van Zyl, Halt Road and Voortrekker Road.

In Jakes Gerwel and Bofors Circle in the Elsies River area, the majority of these cases reported indicate that cellphones are grabbed through an open window, when it is either left on the dashboard or the victim is speaking on the phone whilst stationary at the intersection.

The City’s Metro Police says they recorded 36 smash-and-grab incidents on Jakes Gerwel Drive between November and December, up from 22 during the same period the previous year.

The MMC for Safety and Security JP Smith says surveillance footage also shows would-be thieves scouting for opportunities.

He says CCTV footage detected 100 instances where individuals appeared to be ‘casing out’ potential targets, compared to 41 in 2022.

More recently this year, between 25th to the 27th January, another 7 incidents were detected by CCTV operators where would-be perpetrators were seen scouting for opportunities.

The increase in the number of proverbial window shopping incidents is of interest. We know that smash-and-grabs are crimes of opportunity, and the statistics suggest that smash-and-grab criminals are not letting up.

Police and the City has urged motorists to take the necessary measures to avoid becoming a victim, including hiding valuables.

City officials distributed pamphlets in the area last week, providing tips on smash-and-grab crimes, road safety, as well as parent and child safety.

Here are some tips to reduce the risk of a smash-and-grab incident:

• Keep valuables out of sight and not on seats inside the vehicle – put it in the boot or underneath the seat, making sure it’s not visible
• Lock all doors and close windows
• Be cautious, be vigilant, and be aware of your surroundings
• Be wary of people loitering about at traffic lights or intersections
• Be aware of people attempting to give you pamphlets or sell you goods as not all are legitimate vendors

Smash-and-grab incidents can be reported to the nearest police station or the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre by dialling 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline.