Motorists in the east of Pretoria are advised to drive with caution after recent reports of smash-and-grab incidents.
The crimes have been reported at these intersections:
– At the corner of De Villebois Mareuil Drive and Garsfontein Road next to Plastic View informal settlement,
– At the corner of Nossob Street and Delmas Road,
– N1/Garsfontein Road
– Fountains Circle and
– N14/Eufees off-ramp.
Certain people believe the crime of attacking vehicles at intersections or when stationary is compounded by the existence of informal settlements and poor visibility on the roads.
Crime expert Chris de Kock said driving to the corner of De Villebois Mareuil Drive was a worrying route, especially at night.
“There are dense bushes next to the road which makes the intersection unsafe as the perpetrators smash [windows], grab your belongings and run into the bushes.”
De Kock said poor visibility on the intersection also adds to the problem.
He said in Garsfontein the second most persistent crime after vehicle theft is theft out of motor vehicles, which falls into the smash-and-grab category.
Motorists should also refrain from driving and holding their cellphones or having visible belongings in the car as it makes them targets, said De Kock.
Ward 47 councillor Linda Erasmus said although these incidents were not rife in her ward, there was a recent incident on the corner of Rubenstein and Solomon Mahlangu drives about a week ago.
Erasmus said the intersection at Nossob and Delmas is a hotspot, because of Wolwespruit informal settlement.
Old East Safety Forum spokesperson Jarad Frimmel said the N1 Garsfontein road offramp is still a hotspot and that it’s crucial to be cautious there.
“The modus operandi is for a vehicle to park under the Garsfontein Bridge. Suspects exit and wait next to the traffic lights at the off-ramp. Once they have a victim, they flee back to their car on the N1 and drive off.”
Frimmel said he received two complaints of this happening there: one on June 14 and again on July 13.
He said Fountains Circle and the N14/Eufees off-ramp are also hotspots for smash-and-grab incidents.
“There is plenty of vegetation where suspects lie and wait for targets and plenty of escape routes, making it a tricky spot for police. I hear of frequent smash-and-grab incidents at this spot weekly,” Frimmel said.
Police did not comment at the time of publishing.
According to specialist senior crime investigator and investigator into serious economic, violent and cybercrimes, Mike Bolhuis, smash-and-grabs have been a persistent crime in the east.
“Smash-and-grabs in the east have never decreased, it has always been a problem and motorists must be warned.”
He said it is very difficult to avoid smash-and-grabs as it happens when you least expect it.
“Motorists need to be positively paranoid and always be observant of their environment. Never fiddle with your phone in the intersection, and put valuables in the vehicle.”
He said expensive jewellery also attracts perpetrators.
“The thieves can break your window and grab your earrings. Watches are the biggest attractions.”
Bolhuis said most smash-and-grabs happen next to informal settlements.
“The residents will resort to smash-and-grabbing just to make ends meet. Poverty-stricken communities like those in informal settlements resort to these petty crimes.”
CSI Security operating in Pretoria east reported that a woman fell victim to a smash-and-grab crime on the Garsfontein off-ramp on Wednesday, July 23 at about 22:00.
According to operations manager Kam Reddy, the victim was not injured, however she lost her laptop and was left traumatised.
Here are more hotspots for smash-and-grab crimes in Pretoria:
– The Atterbury Road offramp from the N1 in Menlyn
– Lynnwood Road offramp on the N1
– John Vorster Drive offramp from the N1 in Lyttelton
– Jean Avenue offramp from the R28 in Centurion
– Rigel Avenue offramp from the N1 in Erasmuskloof
– Corner of University and Lynnwood roads in Hatfield
– The traffic lights along Walker Street in Sunnyside
– Intersection of Lynnwood Road and Solomon Mahlangu Drive in Garsfontein
– The traffic lights along Nelson Mandela Drive in Sunnyside
– The traffic lights along Simon Vermooten Road in Silverton
– Along Beyers Naude Drive and Paul Kruger Street in Wonderboompoort
– Nelson Mandela Drive, Duncan Street and Walker Street in Sunnyside
– The R55 in Erasmia
– Burnett Street, Hilda Street and the Atterbury Road offramp in the Brooklyn area
– The corner of Delfi Avenue and Garsfontein Road in Garsfontein
– At Simon Vermooten and the N4
According to CSI, approaching intersections, especially at night, requires heightened caution to avoid becoming a target of smash-and-grab crimes. Here are some crucial safety tips to consider:
– Lock your doors and close your windows: Always lock your vehicle’s doors and keep the windows fully closed while driving. Do not open windows or doors for strangers, as this can make you vulnerable to crime.
– Stay vigilant: Continuously monitor your surroundings for suspicious individuals or activities. Being aware of your environment can help you spot potential threats early.
– Exercise caution at intersections: Be particularly wary of people standing at or near intersections. These locations can be hotspots for criminal activities, so approach them with caution and be prepared to move if necessary.
– Handle road obstacles wisely: If you encounter obstacles like rocks or tyres on the road, do not exit your vehicle to remove them. Instead, reverse carefully and drive away from the area to avoid possible dangers.
– Slow down at night: When driving late at night, reduce your speed well before reaching an intersection. This ensures that the traffic light will change to green by the time you arrive, reducing the likelihood of stopping in a vulnerable position.
– Keep valuables out of sight: Avoid leaving bags, cellphones, briefcases, or other valuables visible inside your vehicle. Store these items securely out of sight to reduce the risk of theft.
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