Ram-raiding

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Ram-raiding is a variation on burglary in which a van, SUV, or cars, or other heavy vehicle is driven through the windows or doors of a closed shop, usually a department store or jewellers, to allow the perpetrators to loot it.

This act has occurred since at least the mid 1930s. The term came into widespread use after a series of such raids in Belfast in 1979 which was covered in news reports, and in countries such as Australia which inspired a series of similar crimes.

Notably, two cars are used to break into technology companies and steal high value equipment for resale on the black market.

Commercial properties in areas prone to ram-raids often erect strong barriers or obstructions such as bollards to discourage such attacks. ATM centers are also victims of this ram-raiding.

The practice was portrayed in the 1994 movie Shopping.

Many companies have come up with solutions to the ram-raiding craze that has taken off in recent years. Everything from electronic bollards to electronic barriers have been employed in the quest to keep property from the raiders.

The other solution of course, is Security Guards, but teams of "round the clock" security are expensive and often not the most economical way of dealing with the issue.

Naturally, like all things in the business world, if there are rewards awaiting the robber, one way or another, you can rest assured they will find a way to get to it. Take for example the case of the Millennium Dome robbery where the robbers ram-raided the building with a JCB digger. The case that the diamond (which later turned out to be a dummy anyway) was in, the security company claimed was inpenetrable. It took the robbers just seconds to breach it before armed police swooped.

The Australian Drama Dangerous (TV series) features ram-raiding as a central theme.

Wikipedia information about Ram-raiding This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ram-raiding". It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer). Help contribute to Americola and edit this article.