Ram-raiding

A bollard in front of a shop to deter ram raiders.

An optician shop in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, UK following a ramraid attack.

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

Overview

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 that was covered in news reports and in countries such as Australia that inspired a series of similar crimes.

Notably, large trucks 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 centres are also victims of ram-raiding, with criminals smashing the machines to steal cash boxes.

Many companies have come up with solutions to ram-raiding. Everything from electronic bollards to electronic barriers has been employed to keep property from the raiders.

Another solution is security guards, but round-the-clock teams are expensive and often not the most economical way of dealing with ram-raiding.

See also

• Smash and grab
• Vehicle ramming as a terrorism tactic

External links

• BBC report about a ram-raid in Leeds.