Gauteng smash-and-grab’s hotspots identified

Gordon Road in Roodepoort has been identified as the number one smash-and-grab hotspot in the province.

This was revealed after Gauteng Department of Community Safety released the province’s smash-and-grab hotspots.

The Democratic Alliance asked the MEC to give details about the number of smash- and-grab incidents in the province over the past two years.

The report revealed that 14th Avenue in Randburg and Main Road in Florida were recorded as the number one smash-and-grab hotspots in 2013 until 2014.

DA’s Gauteng Shadow MEC for Community Safety Kate Lorimer said she finds it concerning that there are a lot of hotspots in the province.

“This is an ongoing problem and I think the police should work together with Metro Police to deal with smash-and-grabs. I believe it takes a lot of policemen and proper organisation to do the job, but these hotspots need to be patrolled every day,” Lorimer said.

In an effort to deal with smash-and-grabs, Johannesburg Metor Police Department launched Operation ke Molao in February.

“These included arresting window washers, beggars and vendors who were found loitering and accused of contributing to crime around highways, byways, and intersections and on the streets,” said JMPD spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnar.

Another entity involved in the fight against smash-and-grabs is Londoloza’s Anti-Smash-and-Grab, which is a free community service to benefit everyone.

Londoloza operates at 14 hotspots, which include Gordon Road, Malibongwe Drive, N1 as well as 14th Avenue.

Chief operating officer Lance Verster said they can be contacted on twitter [https://mobile.twitter.com/LondolozaPG] and Facebook [https://m.facebook.com/pages/Londoloza-Protection-Group/157332690986900?sk=wall] with information regarding hotsports – We will assist where we can,” he said.

Safety tips from Londoloza Protection Group:

• Constantly be on the lookout for suspicious-looking people and be wary of people standing at traffic lights and intersections.

• Lock all your doors and close the windows.

• Don’t leave handbags, cellphones and other valuables visible in the vehicle.

• When approaching a red traffic light at night, slow down so that you only reach it when it turns green, therefore you will not need to stop.

• Never open your window or door for a stranger, even if they are trying to tell you that there is something wrong with your vehicle, it may be a ploy.

• If you encounter obstacles in the road such as rocks or tyres, do not get out of your vehicle to remove them. Reverse and drive off in the opposite direction.

• Never sit in your vehicle without being conscious or you surroundings and do not sleep in your vehicle.