Cape’s 'smash-and-grab' hot spots

Cape Town - 150830 - Police have warned motorists to be on the lookout at the busy intersection of Kroomboom Road and Jan Smuts Drive in Athlone, as it is a new hotspot for smash and grab attacks. Picture: David Ritchie

Cape Town - 150830 - Police have warned motorists to be on the lookout at the busy intersection of Kroomboom Road and Jan Smuts Drive in Athlone, as it is a new hotspot for smash and grab attacks. Picture: David Ritchie

Published Aug 31, 2015

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Cape Town - Police took to the streets on Friday in a road campaign to warn motorists of the dangers of smash-and-grab incidents on the N2, Kromboom Road and Jan Smuts Drive.

Police spokeswoman Constable Noloyiso Rwexana confirmed the campaign, saying it was part of Women’s Month crime prevention strategies.

Hanif Loonat, chairman of the Mitchells Plain community police forum, appealed to motorists to come forward if they were “victims of smash-and-grab thieves”.

“There were three complaints over the long weekend in August. One man had his cellphone stolen while two others almost lost their phones in attempted robberies,” he said.

Loonat said there were reports that homeless people were involved in some of the smash-and-grab incidents on Kromboom Road. “We need more complaints and charges to be laid. Police can only work on concrete reports and we encourage people to report every matter, no matter how big or how insignificant it may seem.”

He said that the more complaints lodged, the more resources could be used to try and lessen the number of smash-and-grabs.

“Because the homeless are displaced people who sleep along the freeways and main roads, these crimes happen throughout the week. It’s not as if they travel far to commit the crime, they are right here on our doorsteps.”

He said that they hide under trees along the road and throw stones to slow down and stop cars before launching their attacks.

“The attacks on Jakes Gerwel Drive, which is notorious for smash-and-grabs, has stopped since the special police unit has been put there.”

POSITIVE STEP

Athlone community policing forum chairwoman, Aziza Kannemeyer, said that although the Kromboom and Jan Smuts roads have become “notorious” for traders, they have also “attracted a few elements” related to smash-and-grab crimes. She said although there were a few reported incidents it was not yet regarded as a crisis stage.

“All along Jan Smuts Drive, we’ve had a few of these incidents, but we can’t compare it to the situation in Jakes Gerwel Drive,”

Kannemeyer said last Friday’s pamphlet initiative was a “positive step in preventing the situation from escalating”. “I am rather pleased with the preventative rather than reactionary measures being taken,” she said.

Kannemeyer said the local neighbourhood watch was doing sterling work, having “beefed up patrols in Kromboom Park when it became problematic in terms of crime and had managed to bring it under control”.

Mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith said police units are stationed on Bluegum Road near Bonteheuwel, another hot spot. “We have had a few operations over the years and at the moment smash-and-grabs are limited. I am not aware of any on Jakes Gerwel Drive at all.”

Smith said Jakes Gerwel at the R300 and Bluegum Road near Bonteheuwel are the hot spots the city has identified and said: “The measures we have put in place seem to be working.”

He said there are units that are permanently placed to make sure the smash-and-grabs don’t happen, but stressed that motorists should not leave valuables in sight, even in parked vehicles. “In Siqalo and Kosovo in Langa windows are smashed very quickly.”

Cape Argus

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