SMASH-AND-GRABBER REVEALS ALL & HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR SELF-DEFENCE ADVANTAGE!

The hot topic of smash-and-grab is once again in the public eye, thanks to social media. In a recent incident that was filmed by a fellow driver's dashcam and loaded onto YouTube, it can be seen how the criminals attack-ritual that leads to this less-than-20-second smash-and-grab crime. ENCA has a great news clip online at the moment that does an interview with a smash-and-grabber and reveals some of their methods and mentality. There are also some safety tips from the neighborhood watch.

To summerise, here are some of the main points from that clip that pertains to their methods:

• A spark plug, or "bomb", is used to break the motor window because it has a sharp point to penetrate the window. Keep in mind, that the size of the spark plug also makes it easily concealable. 

• Although they will do their dirty deed anywhere where there is an opportunity, the are currently using bridges to do their deed as once the deed is done, they flee under the bridge, knowing that most people will not follow them.

• At least a 2-man job. One to do the deed, the other as a lookout. More have been used in many cases.

• Women are targeted because they get scared easily (and offer little resistance).

• Smash-and-grabbers wait for you to be in traffic or at red lights before attacking.

• A smash-and-grabber will dress up in "protective clothing" such as a jacket or overall to protect selves from cuts after they have dove through broken glass.

•  If there is no getaway, the smash-and-grabber will probably not do it (but be warned, there are still desperate crininals out there)!

• The smash-and-grabber can use the threats of a gun or any other weapon to gain compliance.

A few safety tips to avoid becoming a smash-and-grab-victim:

• Consider safety film (anti-smash-and-grab film) or even window tinting for your car's windows.
• Leave your window open slightly (approximately 3 cm, but less than 5cm).This makes the glass more flexible and more resistant against shattering if they’re struck by a sharp object.
• Lock your doors.
• Never open doors or windows (fully) or for strangers. Less than 3cm of window is sufficient.
• Avoid getting involved in discussions with street vendors, flyer-distributors or window cleaner at intersections.
• Be constantly on the lookout for suspicious looking characters, for example those who are wearing usually warm or heavy clothing during warmer weather.
• Always be conscious of your surroundings, especially when stationery.
• Remain vigilant when coming to an intersection or stopping your vehicle.
• If you encounter obstacles such as rocks or tires do not get out of your vehicle to remove them.
• Leave a gap between you and the car in front of you to give you room to manoeuvre, should something happen.
• Be wary if you see broken glass lying on the road, as it may indicate a smash-and-grab hotspot.
• Hide your valuables - Car floors, dashboards and seats are not good places to leave items.
• Alternatively, lock your valuables away in your boot if you do not need them for the duration of your travel.

If you see a smash-and-grab incident taking place or about to take place:

• Be a responsible citizen and do something!
• Hoot and point, if you see suspicious characters walking around a fellow driver's car, or if the smash-and-grab is in progress.
• Assist the victim ONLY if you have ensured your (and your loved ones’) safety first.
• Don't give chase UNLESS you have had proper training to deal with such situations. Even then, I still caution against it.

For a previous blog on smash-and-grabs, please go to: http://defence-unlimited.blogspot.com/2014/05/smash-and-grabwhat-to-do-and-not-do.html

Get EDUCATED. Be EMPOWERED. Live a FULLY-ENGAGED LIFE.

The link to the ENCA clip can be found at:
http://www.enca.com/south-africa/smash-and-grabber-tells-all

In self defence, the only question you should ask is…

“What am I willing to fight, die and kill for, and why?"

This is the one question I ask all every participant who has ever been on my “Introduction to Self Defence Workshop”. I further ask them to write the question down, and answer it when they have a few moments to spare at home. It's the one thing, above everything else I teach in my workshops that I emphasis they are to do, and consider very carefully what they decide is the answer. The reason for this importance is because all subsequent self defence tactics and techniques thereafter, will depend on what they are willing to fight, die and kill for.

Let’s explore this question a bit deeper:

What are you willing to fight for? Humans only fight for two reasons: Firstly, for the survival/protection of ourselves or our loved one(s). This survival mechanism stems back to prehistoric times, where we had to fight to survive the elements and the wilderness to which we inhabited. From a scientific perspective, this refers to the brain stem (old brain) that controls the survival mechanisms of flight or fight. For some, the reaction is to flee a potential hazard (flight), for other, the response is to fight (reason number 1). It is instinctual, and is connected to the way we react to danger. However, this instinct also gets triggered in another way - we have a perceived danger/threat confront us. Sometimes, the threat may be the passing of a sarcastic comment;  or a sudden lane-change into our lane by another car, or even by a snobbish glance or smirk in our direction by a ruffian at a bar. Whatever the perceived threat is, it is more the fight-reaction we get, not because it threatens our survival, but rather because it threatens our personal ego – this is reason number 2. In my opinion, the decision to fight in either of these circumstances is your choice to make, but you need to ask if it is a fight that you would really want to get involved in.

What are you willing to die for? This refers to self-sacrifice and the people and things that you would be willing to put your life at risk for. For some, when I said "things” in my previous sentence, it might have made you feel a bit unconformable, and you may even have shook your head in disagreement. Is there possibly any "thing" (in terms of material possession) that you would be willing to put your life on the line for? As horrific as this might sound, there are indeed some things that you may decide is worth sacrificing your life for. An example? How about an extreme one?  You are at home and there is a life support machine that sustains the life of your sick spouse. Would you be willing to lay your life down for that machine if something were to threaten it? Makes you think doesn’t it?  The point here is that there is no right or wrong answer. We all have the greatest gift that is often overlooked- the right to choose. With that said though, hospitals and cemeteries are filled with people that made bad choices, but the fact remains, it is/was within their right to choose what was right or wrong for them.

What are you willing to kill for?  This is the most consequential and controversial question to answer. Back in prehistoric times again, the cave man would kill their fellow kind for food, shelter and mates. Oh wait, that happens now too! However, with the advancement of human civilization, we have also begun to dictate that some pervious prehistoric methods are no longer favourable or even legal (although that does not stop the many criminal out there). What we are willing to kill for is again something that we have to decide upon, which has no right or wrong answer to the individual, but has more sever consequence to it. For instance, should you find yourself in a situation where you have to take another human being's life, there is what I call "surviving the SLY", as a reference to surviving the Situation, surviving the Law and surviving Yourself. Surviving the situation implies you need to survive the immediate treat that has come your way in the most effective and efficient manner you can, even if this means taking another’s life. Surviving the law pertains to the legal repercussions you will have to face after taking someone life. You will need to answer to the laws of your land for your actions and let them be the decider as to whether you had acted lawfully or not. Lastly, surviving yourself - you will have to live with the knowledge that you had killed someone. For good-fearing Christian, this might be seen as devastating since they would have to had had broken one the Ten Commandments as dictated by the Bible. For others, being labelled a killer may not be the most appealing, but it is something that will stick to you like a fly on a sticky-trap-rolls.

Then there is the WHY? For a long time this question eluded me. Then it dawned upon me through a flash-back session with one of my past coaches. "The quality of your answers lies in the quality of the questions you ask", he reminded me. The “why”, therefore,  is probably the biggest and most elusive one that many self defence courses have failed to ask. Why would you be willing to fight, die and kill for X (x being what you have just answered in the 3 questions above)? Why is it so important to you? Why would NOT fighingt for, or dying for or killing for X be so tragic for you?  It is a question that, if answered truthfully, will surprise or even shock you. The key here is to be absolutely truthful when answering this question. What you might conclude (as I had) is that the real reason why you are willing to do all these things for X, is because of how the loss of X will make YOU feel, and how it would affect YOUR life!

I stress again that there is no right or wrong to these questions.  It is more important that you make these the decision while you are in a rational and logical state of mind. Unfortunately, it is often those times that we let our emotional state at the heat-of-the-moment that makes us do irrational and possible life-debilitating choices.

So, take the time now, while you are sitting comfortably at your desk, in a secure and safe environment to answer these 4 questions. Decide what is it EXACTLY is it that you would be willing to fight, die and kill for, and why. Once done, make multiple copies of it and hang it around the areas that you will see it each and every day. Be constantly reminded as to what you had decided, and only get involved if something threatens the people and/or things you have put on this list.

Till next time. I hope this message educates and empowers you, allowing you to live a positive and engaged life!

Warren Ho

Founder of Defence Unlimited

www.defence-unlimited.com