Cape Town smash-and-grab hotspots: Areas to watch out for

Cape Town’s Metro Police CCTV network has revealed a clear pattern in the timing and locations of smash-and-grab attacks, with incidents on the rise.

The City of Cape Town reports that from July 2024 to May 2025, its CCTV system recorded 215 smash-and-grab cases.

Although the actual number is likely higher, since many incidents go unreported or happen beyond the cameras’ reach, the data highlights several areas that consistently appear as high-risk zones.

Smash-and-grab hotspots in the City

The most dangerous stretch, according to the data, is the corridor between Bonteheuwel and Langa, a long-time hotspot.

But recent months have seen a shift. As law enforcement pressure grows in certain zones, criminals are relocating, and other intersections and suburbs are becoming increasingly active.

Here are the other major hotspots in Cape Town based on incident data and reports to the Public Emergency Communication Centre:

• Leonsdale
• Beaconvale
• Foreshore
• Elsies River Industria
• Epping Industria
• Milnerton
• Philippi

Many of these locations are clustered in the same general zones, making targeted enforcement more effective, but also more challenging as criminals adapt.

When it happens

These crimes tend to follow a pattern, with most incidents occurring in the late afternoon and early evening, particularly on weekends.

Alderman JP Smith, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, explains that this is when drivers are often tired, distracted, or relaxed, and when valuables are more likely to be left visible on car seats after shopping or running errands.

“These opportunistic criminals strike when people are perhaps less vigilant after a long day at work or stuck in peak-hour traffic,” Alderman Smith noted.

The City also provided some tips to reduce the risk of a smash-and-grab incident. These include:

• Keeping valuables out of sight and not on seats inside the vehicle – putting them in the boot or underneath the seat, making sure it’s not visible
• Locking all doors and closing windows
• Being cautious, vigilant, and aware of your surroundings
• Being wary of people loitering about at traffic lights or intersections
• Being aware of people attempting to give you pamphlets or sell you goods, as not all are legitimate vendors.