Smash-and-grab

Saturday, 2023-6-3, Word of the Day: Smash-and-grab

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WotD: Smash-and-grab

Today, with a recent Tokyo incident in mind, we will talk about the term smash-and-grab.

You may hear this term in news reports or conversations about crime.


Smash-and-grab refers to a type of theft where the perpetrator smashes a window or breaks into a store or car to steal something valuable and then flees the scene quickly.


This type of crime is often committed in seconds, and the thief may use a tool such as a hammer or a crowbar to break into the target.

For example, recently, a group of men who did not know each other entered a Rolex store in Tokyo, smashed the glass cases used to display the expensive watches, and grabbed a few costly pieces before running away.

This was a smash-and-grab robbery.

Unfortunately, smash-and-grab crimes are becoming more common in some areas.

Japanese people are so naive when it comes to crime that they looked on thinking it was a movie and never felt there was any danger to themselves or the store clerks as thieves made off with 250-million-yen worth of merchandise after causing hundreds of thousands of yen in damage.

If you witness a smash-and-grab robbery, it’s important to call the police immediately.

The more information you can provide, such as a description of the thief or the direction they fled, the better the chance law enforcement has of catching the perpetrator.

So, smash-and-grab is a great term to add to your vocabulary.

Take precautions and be aware of your surroundings so you don’t become a victim of this type of crime. 

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.


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