Methods Criminals Use

Criminals will focus on those areas where they know traffic is often congested and where vehicles will remain stationary for a while.

These criminals also will often work in pairs where one will pose as a vendor, distracting the attention of the driver while the other party will perform the smash-and-grab from the passenger side.

Objects are sometimes placed on the road and motorists make the mistake of leaving their vehicles to remove these objects. This is when the vehicles are then easily targeted.

Communication technology such as cellular phones has also enabled these criminals to identify potential victims from a bridge or position of elevation and to relay this message to their partners in crime further along the road.

The person making the smash-and-grab will most likely select the scene of the crime as an area where a fast getaway would be possible for him and any pursuit would be difficult.