We’ve seen some sophisticated criminals over the past couple of months – new, innovative hijacking scams keep cropping up.

Then there’s the classic ‘smash and grab’, a spur of the moment assault on someone’s car window before grabbing whatever you can off the seat.

Smash and grabs usually happen at robots, in places where criminals can make a quick exit after smashing and grabbing.

Fortunately for those on the road, things don’t always work out for the thieves involved.

IOL has the low-down on a recent smash and grab that took place at Durban’s tollgate bridge in Berea.

In the clip, captured using a dashcam, a man standing next to a set of traffic lights approaches a silver Toyota Tazz and blatantly attempts to repeatedly smash the driver’s window.

Look at him smash and fail:

Not his best work. Perhaps the weirdest part is the ‘sorry’ gesture he makes when the window doesn’t smash – chilled.

Needless to say, those on social media were not pleased.

“For the longest time Tollgate Bridge has been a concern for motorists, pedestrians, councillor, police, Community Policing Forums (CPF) and neighbourhood watches. Just last month, Berea Crime Watch issued a warning for motorists to not support the beggars because they were the smash-and-grabbers”. – Sandile B Sandy

“This has been taken up with Umbilo SAPS and Umbilo CPF. Operations to be put in place”. – Heather Roos

The man had an accomplice standing nearby, who also said sorry for the attempted robbery.

I reckon the Tazz owner wasn’t too keen to accept the apology, all considered.

[source:iol]