South Africa continues to grapple with high smash-and-grab hotspots crimes. Recent crime data from the South African Police Service (SAPS) reveals that a total of 19,409 cases of “theft out of or from motor vehicles” were reported during the third quarter of the 2024/2025 period. This equates to around 210 cars being broken into daily between October and December 2024.
Smash-and-grab crimes involve thieves shattering car windows to snatch valuables such as handbags, cellphones, or laptops. Additionally, criminals target vehicle components that can be quickly resold on the black market, including airbags, batteries, tyres, headlights, and sound systems. While the overall number of incidents has dropped by 12.9% compared to the previous year, some areas remain notorious hotspots.
Gauteng – The Most Smash-and-Grab Hotspots
Gauteng recorded the highest number of smash-and-grab cases, with 5,286 incidents. The top 10 police stations for reported cases in the province are:
| Provincial Rank | National Rank | Police Station | Thefts Reported | Change from Previous Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Pretoria Central | 192 | -106 |
| 2 | 11 | Sunnyside | 173 | -29 |
| 3 | 13 | Kempton Park | 169 | -30 |
| 4 | 14 | Johannesburg Central | 151 | -48 |
| 5 | 15 | Midrand | 150 | -36 |
| 6 | 20 | Brooklyn | 124 | -40 |
| 7 | 21 | Honeydew | 119 | -48 |
| 8 | 23 | Lyttelton | 117 | -14 |
| 9 | 28 | Akasia | 112 | +11 |
| 10 | 30 | Sandton | 110 | -22 |
Western Cape – Nearly as Affected as Gauteng
The Western Cape reported 5,149 cases of theft from motor vehicles. The top 10 smash-and-grab high-risk areas include:
| Provincial Rank | National Rank | Police Station | Thefts Reported | Change from Previous Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Cape Town Central | 206 | -206 |
| 2 | 4 | Stellenbosch | 62 | -62 |
| 3 | 5 | Sea Point | 44 | -44 |
| 4 | 12 | Bellville | 25 | -25 |
| 5 | 19 | Worcester | 1 | -1 |
| 6 | 24 | Woodstock | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | 26 | Paarl | 28 | -28 |
| 8 | 27 | Milnerton | 17 | +17 |
| 9 | 29 | Table View | 13 | -13 |
| 10 | 31 | Goodwood | 16 | -16 |
KwaZulu-Natal – Third Most Affected Province
KwaZulu-Natal recorded 2,757 cases. The smash-and-grab highest numbers were in:
| Provincial Rank | National Rank | Police Station | Thefts Reported | Change from Previous Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Durban Central | 295 | -79 |
| 2 | 33 | Pinetown | 105 | -61 |
| 3 | 35 | Umbilo | 102 | -27 |
| 4 | 50 | Richards Bay | 77 | -61 |
| 5 | 54 | Ladysmith | 73 | +22 |
| 6 | 57 | Pietermaritzburg | 73 | -15 |
| 7 | 60 | Point | 71 | -9 |
| 8 | 62 | Phoenix | 70 | -5 |
| 9 | 63 | Empangeni | 70 | -16 |
| 10 | 65 | Mountain Rise | 69 | -49 |
Eastern Cape – 1,847 Reported Incidents
The Eastern Cape recorded 1,847 incidents.
| Provincial Rank | National Rank | Police Station | Thefts Reported | Change from Previous Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Humewood | 203 | -55 |
| 2 | 20 | East London | 184 | -67 |
| 3 | 49 | Mount Road | 133 | -27 |
| 4 | 64 | Cambridge | 116 | -12 |
| 5 | 81 | Walmer | 78 | +2 |
| 6 | 89 | Qonce | 50 | -24 |
| 7 | 125 | Madiera | 43 | -20 |
| 8 | 146 | Komani | 41 | +22 |
| 9 | 151 | Kabega Park | 41 | -3 |
| 10 | 159 | Swartkops | 39 | +5 |
Mpumalanga – 1,037 Cases
Mpumalanga reported 1,037 incidents.
| Provincial Rank | National Rank | Police Station | Thefts Reported | Change from Previous Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | Nelspruit | 180 | +27 |
| 2 | 18 | Witbank | 125 | 0 |
| 3 | 22 | Middelburg | 117 | +12 |
| 4 | 83 | Vosman | 57 | +20 |
| 5 | 117 | Secunda | 43 | +9 |
| 6 | 181 | Ermelo |
Limpopo – 1,004 Cases
| Rank | Police Station | Cases Reported |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polokwane | 273 |
| 2 | Namakgale | 55 |
| 3 | Seshego | 44 |
| 4 | Mankweng | 43 |
| 5 | Groblersdal | 39 |
| 6 | Westenburg | 38 |
| 7 | Burgersfort | 33 |
| 8 | Musina | 26 |
| 9 | Mokopane | 26 |
| 10 | Lephalale | 23 |
North West – 951 Cases
| Rank | Police Station | Cases Reported |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rustenburg | 149 |
| 2 | Klerksdorp | 101 |
| 3 | Potchefstroom | 75 |
| 4 | Mahikeng | 56 |
| 5 | Brits | 51 |
| 6 | Moonooi | 34 |
| 7 | Jouberton | 34 |
| 8 | Mmabatho | 41 |
| 9 | Hartbeespoort | 29 |
| 10 | Tlhabane | 25 |
Free State – 920 Cases
| Rank | Police Station | Cases Reported |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Park Road | 205 |
| 2 | Welkom | 73 |
| 3 | Kagisanong | 51 |
| 4 | Kroonstad | 37 |
| 5 | Phuthaditjhaba | 28 |
| 6 | Bethlehem | 27 |
| 7 | Maokeng | 25 |
| 8 | Sasolburg | 25 |
| 9 | Mangaung | 25 |
| 10 | Bayswater | 24 |
Northern Cape – Least Affected with 458 Cases
| Rank | Police Station | Cases Reported |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimberley | 95 |
| 2 | Upington | 42 |
| 3 | Galeshewe | 36 |
| 4 | De Aar | 32 |
| 5 | Kuruman | 23 |
| 6 | Roodepan | 21 |
| 7 | Kathu | 20 |
| 8 | Springbok | 15 |
| 9 | Sunrise | 12 |
| 10 | Kagisho | 12 |
While South Africa has seen a decline in smash-and-grab incidents compared to the previous year, the numbers remain alarmingly high. Motorists are advised to take preventive measures such as keeping valuables out of sight, parking in secure areas, and remaining vigilant at traffic stops to reduce the risk of falling victim to these crimes. Awareness and proactive safety measures can help curb these incidents and protect both property and lives.
Related article: Road Spiking Hotspots in Pretoria: Map and Safety Tips for Motorists
