Klerksdorp Record, Klerksdorp - The country recorded 20 196 cases of “theft out of or from motor vehicles” in the first quarter of the 2024/2025 period, averaging up to 224 incidents per day.
TopAuto used the latest crime data from the South African Police Services to compile the list of the cities with the most cases.
One of the most common tactics is a smash-and-grab, which is when a thief breaks a car’s window to quickly steal loose valuables such as a wallet, cellphone, or handbag. It can also refer to cases when criminals steal tools or other goods stored in a bakkie’s load bin, or when individuals break into the back of delivery vehicles and make off with the cargo.
North West recorded only 1 043 cases. Broken car windows are a common sight in Gauteng, as it had the highest number of theft cases at 5 773 reports. Sunnyside in Pretoria is top in the province. The Western Cape isn’t far behind, as it had 5 530 incidents. Cape Town Central leads the country with 627 cases.
Much further down in the stats is NW, which had 1 043 cases. However, Klerksdorp features second in the province for the most smash-and-grabs. The top 10 police stations in North West for smash-and-grabs are as follows: First is Rustenburg with 143 cases and 23rd in the country, Klerksdorp with 129 cases - 2nd in NW and 28th in the country - and Potch third in NW with 86 cases and 47th in the country.
Jouberton only recorded 36 cases. That puts the area in the 161st place. Similar sized cities to Klerksdorp are Welkom with 76 cases (second in the FS and 61st in the country) and Witbank with 147 cases (first in Mpumalanga and 21st in the country).
