Published: March 17, 2008 10:37 pm      

Police offer advice on ‘smash and grab’ thefts

“Smash and grab” — it’s not the latest wrestling move. Instead, it’s a vicious assault on your parked automobile and the theft of anything of value.

Ashley Burns, a kindergarten teacher at Beckley Elementary School, was a recent victim of this type of crime.

“My grandmother was celebrating her 90th birthday at the Knights of Columbus,” she said. “It was supposed to be a happy day, but it turned out to be a horrible day for my aunt and I after our purses were stolen out of our vehicles.”

Burns said someone smashed a rear passenger’s side window, reached inside the vehicle and grabbed her purse.

“There were many other cars at the event, but they appeared to only break into vehicles when they saw a purse,” she said.

Burns said her mother’s vehicle was parked next to her car, but was untouched.

“This has caused me so much hardship,” Burns said. “I had to cancel everything and place a freeze on my checking account. My driver’s license, Social Security card, credit cards and other identifications are gone. I’ve had to contact the credit bureaus because now I’m worried I might become a victim of identity theft.”

Police say it is impossible to stop a determined person from breaking into your automobile.

“Our interview of these alleged smash and grab suspects in the past, we have found they basically patrol local parking lots looking for vehicles with things of value in sight on the inside,” said Beckley Police Capt. Jeff Shumate.

There have been a couple of other smash and grabs in the city recently, Beckley Police confirmed.

Shumate says never leave anything of value in your car, and don’t assume that by throwing a coat over it you’ll disguise it. Instead, he says, put it in the trunk.

“That’s the best place, if possible,” he said.

Shumate said it is also a good idea to secure valuable items prior to parking.

“You never know who is watching you park your vehicle,” he said.

Shumate says smash and grab type crimes in Beckley happen more often around the Christmas season.

“I guess people are so distracted with shopping and Christmas stuff they forget to secure valuable items,” he said. “And people have a habit of filling up the back seat with gifts and the car prowlers break into the vehicle and take the items.”

Shumate’s advice on how to minimize risk from a smash and grab theft includes parking in well-lit, highly visible, well-populated areas, if possible.

“It is better to pay a small parking fee than take chances with a free parking space in an isolated area,” he said.

A few other good dos and don’ts include not leaving your keys in your car (the police say it happens a lot more than you’d imagine). Don’t leave identification or mail in your car and don’t leave your cell phone in your car.

Shumate recommends that truck owners lock the connection or window between the trunk or truck bed and passenger compartment.

He also recommends leaving unneeded credit cards at home when going to a crowded shopping center.

Shumate says if you see someone trying to break into your car, do not attempt to stop them.

“It’s best to call the police immediately,” he said.