Motorists are advised to be cautious when driving through 35th Street in Elsies River as the area is a hotspot for smash and grabbers who snatch phones and rob people unexpectedly.
A video has been circulating on social media which was captured on Saturday after 2pm by a vehicle’s dashboard camera and shows the vehicles coming to a stop at the red robot. A man in a black and brown jersey and red cap appears as he pretends to cross the road looking out for other vehicles.
The man then casually grabs an unsuspected passenger’s phone who is seated in a silver Toyota with the windows rolled down and jogs away.
Elsies River Community leader Steve Ross said the main corridor between Elsies River and Ravensmead SAPS precincts is 35th Street, which has six smash and grab hotpots on it, meaning drivers have to be very alert when traveling along that route between Parow and Bishop Lavis.
Ross says: “I stay on the route and therefore it's not only close to my home, but close to my heart, which breaks to think that innocent and uninformed drivers are basically passing through an ambush.
“Most of the smash and grab incidents happen when there is traffic congestion during peak hours, although it's also random during the daytime.
"Drivers and pedestrians are equally at risk at these hotspots, so we want to educate everyone passing there to please be safe and hide their valuables, especially their cellphones.
"The number of smash and grab incidents have not necessarily increased recently, but as more people are made aware of it via the groups, it has become one of the major challenges on the table for resolution.”
Steve has taken the initiative to put up a colourful red and blue sign along 35th Street which states “Warning Smash + Grab”. He said that he plans to put on more signages at the other hotspot areas to make drivers aware.
He added that other hotspots in Elsies River are along Fransie van Zyl Avenue and Halt Road, including the intersection of Voortrekker Road and Halt Road.
Ross says: “I would like anyone who wants to stand at hotspots, neighbourhood watches or private residents, to take ownership of their areas and be a beacon of light in Elsies River.”
Roderick Ourson from the Elsies Community Police Forum said they are trying their best to put out frequent videos and information warning motorists to close their windows and put their valuables away when driving past these frequent hotspot areas.
Ourson reports: “SAPS is not working with us. We need SAPS and Law Enforcement to step up and do something about it.
"This is a major problem and Elsies police know about this. There is a solution, but the City looks away because they want to fund their programmes."