Smash-and-grabs in Bedfordview

Despite progress being made in the fight against hijackings and vehicle theft, there has been an increase in theft from vehicles in South Africa, according to Arrive Alive, Road Safety Awareness.

Over the past year, the NEWS has reported on smash-and-grab crimes in the area, proving that the Bedfordview community has not been an excluded from this crime.

With the aim of spreading awareness and putting the community on alert, the NEWS has identified several locations in the Bedfordview area were smash-and-grab crimes took place recently.

Corner of Boeing Road West and Van der Linde Road:

On May 20 this year, Bedfordview resident Ms Catherine Rae had her possessions stolen in a smash-and-grab on the corner of Boeing Road West and Van der Linde Road.

“I was on my way home from work. When I stopped at a robot on the corner of Boeing Road West and Van der Linde Road, three men came up to my passenger window and smashed the window. The men took my handbag and ran off under the bridge that crosses the highway,” said Ms Rae.

“On reporting this to the police, one of the constables said this was the second smash-and grab-on that corner in the same evening. I know of three other women who have had a similar experience to mine, on the very same corner,” said Ms Rae.

The intersection near the Kirkby Road junction and Leceister Road:

The intersection near the Kirkby Road junction and Leceister Road is a busy intersection outside the Bedford Centre that sometimes has window washers and child beggers plying their trade. Ms Tanya Neves, a resident at Bedford Gardens, was nearly a victim of a smash-and-grab at the intersection. Ms Neves also knows of three other smash-and-grab incidents that have occurred at the intersection.

“On Sunday, April 6, I stopped at a red light and one of the children approached me. He asked for money and I told him no. He then asked for a cigarette. Before I could answer, he had a look into my car, saw the packet in my console and tried to stick his hand in the car and remove my car keys,” said Ms Navas.

“I have seen this happen with other people and on two occasions I actually saw people trying to drive this child over. I have reason to believe that these children eventually escalate to smash-and-grabs because a few months ago I was involved in a smash-and-grab and the perpetrator was a child from one of these intersections,” said Ms Navas.

Barbara Road Bridge and on-ramp

Ms Lisa Selli, an Edenglen resident, was the victim of a smash-and-grab on the Barbara Road Bridge at the on-ramp area from the R21 heading towards the airport. On the night of July 16, Ms Selli witnessed another smash-and-grab taking place in the same area.

According to the Bedfordview SAPS communications officer, Sergeant Mduduzi Nhlabathi, “Theft out of vehicles and smash-and-grabs are becoming an increasingly reported problem in the Bedfordview area. Residents should also keep their valuables away from the eyes of strangers. The perpetrators are usually after valuables which they can easily identify from outside the vehicle and sell.”

These items include purses, hand bags and wallets, laptop bags, briefcases, backpacks, shopping bags, cellular phones, MP3 players, tablets, loose change and CDs.

“Places where you are more of a target include areas congested with traffic. This makes it easier for the perpetrators to smash a window while you are immobile and run away without fear or being chased,” said Sgt Nhlabathi.

The following measures can be taken to prevent smash-and-grabs according to Arrive Alive, Road Safety Awareness:

•  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 alert when coming to an intersection or stopping your vehicle.
•  Be wary of people standing at intersections.
•  If you encounter obstacles such as rocks or tyres, do not get out of your vehicle to remove them – reverse and drive off in the opposite direction.
•  If it is late at night, slow down well in advance so that the light changes green by the time you reach an intersection.
•  Leave a gap between you and the car in front of you to give you room to escape should you need to 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 recently.

@bedfordjourno