Smash and grab theft involves breaking into a store quickly and stealing anything that can be carried away. It often causes property damage and is a crime of opportunity. Thieves target poorly lit areas and use vehicles to break in. Physical obstacles can deter theft but may affect advertising. Toughened glass is expensive and not a visible deterrent.
A smash and grab is a particular style of theft. Unlike traditional burglary, which relies mostly on stealth, a burglary is all about speed. A typical burglary burglary would involve breaking a shop window and making off with anything that might be transported before anyone could answer. The crime bears a strong resemblance to vandalism, with costly property damage resulting from each attack.
Often, this is a crime of opportunity and impulse, requiring very little in the way of skill or planning. A simple heavy object such as a brick or large rock will often be sufficient to break in, with the thief simply taking anything that can be carried away quickly. Many security systems are designed to prevent traditional burglaries and are a poor defense against burglars who ignore your alarms.
Thieves selecting a target for a smash and grab usually try to minimize the chances of getting caught. Inland commercial areas such as shopping malls are poor targets due to difficult escape routes and too many witnesses. On the other hand, street shops, especially those with poor lighting and infrequent traffic, make the victims easier.
Vehicles are often incorporated into thefts and thefts, not only for escape, but also for breaking in. In a technique known as a ram raid, thieves crash the vehicle into a door or window to break in. Even cars and trucks have been used with chains and tongs to pull the bars from the windows to allow access. ATMs have also been raided using this style of smash and grab.
The value of the stolen goods is often less than the material damage done during these raids. In some cases where the items on display aren’t particularly valuable, vandalism may have been the original target, with theft being just an afterthought. Window replacement is usually the biggest expense following this type of theft.
Vendors have a number of options for deterring snatches and grabbing raids, each with its own benefits and limitations. Bars, grilles, bollards or other physical obstacles make theft less likely, but the window becomes less useful as advertising space. Similarly, the seller may choose to display lower value merchandise, but again the display becomes less effective in attracting potential customers. Less obvious measures, such as toughened glass, keep the display attractive but are expensive and, without visible overt measures, provide no deterrent to smash and grab attacks.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
