The Scourge of Ram-Raiding: A Retailer’s Nightmare

Ram-raiding attacks are swift and violent, with criminals using vehicles to smash into storefronts, grab high-value merchandise, and escape within minutes. This growing trend is becoming a nightmare for retailers everywhere.

What Is Ram-Raiding? How It Works and Why It’s on the Rise

Ram-raiding (or crash-and-grab) involves criminals using a vehicle, often stolen, to smash into a store and grab valuable goods like electronics, jewelry, or even ATMs. The criminals typically target high-value items and are in and out within minutes, leaving businesses vulnerable.

Ram-raiding, though now infamous for its brazenness, is not a new phenomenon. Its roots stretch back to the pre-World War II era when raids were already gaining notoriety. Initially, these often involved just one vehicle. But by the 1930s, multi-car operations became common—one for the crash, one for the raid, one for the getaway, and often one for blocking the police—significantly increasing potential gains.

Jewelry stores were the most popular targets by the 1950s, with burglars using cars and grappling hooks to rip grilles off storefronts. Nowadays, any store could be a target. Cannabis and liquor stores, luxury goods, and electronics are frequently on the hit list.

But why do criminals resort to such audacious tactics? How prevalent is ram-raiding? What impact does it have on retailers? And what can be done about it?

Let’s find out.

Why Ram-Raiding Is Becoming a Growing Threat to Retailers

Ram-raiding has become a growing concern for retailers, with a significant increase in its occurrence. The quick financial gains and the brazen nature of these crimes make them an attractive option for criminals. Cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles have seen a rise in these violent attacks targeting everything from luxury stores to dispensaries. Major cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles see frequent ram-raid attempts, with luxury stores and dispensaries often targeted.

According to a report by CBS News Chicago, the city has been grappling with a surge in crash-and-grab burglaries, with criminals targeting businesses ranging from convenience stores to high-end boutiques. Criminologist Arthur Lurigio noted, “A property crime turned into a violent crime, so what we can expect is a change in police behavior and anticipation in encountering an offender. I’m not sure if the retail stores can do anything more than they do.”

In one particularly egregious incident in Seattle, thieves rammed a car into a Greenwood pot store, making off with over $10,000 worth of cannabis products, as reported by KIRO 7 News.

Such incidents not only result in significant financial losses for retailers but also pose a threat to public safety.

Why Do Criminals Use Ram-Raiding Tactics?

Ram-raiding is attractive to criminals due to several factors: the ability to quickly steal high-value goods, the relative ease of execution, and the low risk of being caught. The violent nature of these crimes, however, puts retailers and the public in great danger:

• Quick and Easy: Unlike sophisticated heists, ram raids require minimal planning. It’s a crude but effective crime.
• High Reward: Luxury items and electronics are sought-after on the black market, fetching significant profits.
• Low (Perceived) Risk: Perpetrators often wear masks and target stores at night, making identification difficult. Historically, the perception has been that the chances of getting caught are minimal.

The Severe Impact of Ram-Raiding on Retailers

The damage caused by ram-raiding goes far beyond stolen merchandise. Retailers face the financial burden of replacing goods and repairing damage, while also dealing with business disruption and reputational harm. The psychological toll on employees and owners can last long after the event.

And the psychological toll on business owners and employees cannot be overstated. The sense of violation and vulnerability that accompanies a ram-raiding incident can linger long after the physical damage has been repaired, leaving a lasting impact on those affected.

The true cost of ram raids extends far beyond just the value of stolen goods. Retailers face:

• Property Damage: Repairing smashed storefronts, shattered displays, and structural damage can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more.
• Lost Revenue: Stores are forced to close during repairs, losing vital sales and disrupting operations.
• Insurance Woes: Premiums skyrocket, and some businesses become uninsurable, crippling their ability to operate. In addition, if any employees were present during the ram-raiding attack and sustained injuries, workers’ compensation claims come into play.
• Psychological Trauma: Staff and owners experience fear, anxiety, and a sense of powerlessness long after the robbery itself.
• Community Blight: The prevalence of ram raids tarnishes a neighborhood’s image and drives away shoppers, harming the wider business community.

How to Prevent Ram-Raiding and Protect Your Business

Preventing ram-raiding requires proactive planning. While no solution is foolproof, a combination of physical security measures and high-tech solutions can greatly reduce the risk of these violent crimes.

However, some town officials resist. Visible security measures like bollards clash with the town’s aesthetic, leading officials to deny installation permits. A store owner in Chicago spent $2,500 installing concrete barriers after his business fell victim to a crash-and-grab robbery. The local alderman took issue and forced their removal. The store was promptly hit again.

Here’s what some desperate retailers are doing to prevent ram raids.

• Physical Barriers: Bollards, reinforced concrete planters, and retractable grilles make storefronts less vulnerable. Removable bollards provide nighttime protection while allowing access during business hours.
• Reinforce Entry Points: Consider heavy-duty steel doors, impact-resistant windows, and reinforced concrete walls.
• Enhanced Security: Improved lighting, high-definition security cameras, and overnight patrols increase the criminals’ risk.
• Motion-Activated Alarms: Alarms that trigger when a vehicle breaches a perimeter around the store give police a head start.
• GPS Trackers: Discreetly place GPS trackers on high-value merchandise to assist with recovery.
• Remove High-Value Targets: Some stores keep less valuable merchandise on display overnight and lock up or relocate expensive inventory.
• Limit Cash on Hand: Minimize the amount of cash kept on-premises to reduce a thief’s potential gains.
• Staff Training: Train staff on identifying suspicious activity and what procedures to follow in the event of a ram raid.
• Community Collaboration: Work with law enforcement, neighboring businesses, and local government to share intelligence and develop area-wide security plans.
• Advocacy for Change: Push for legislative changes that increase penalties for ram-raiding and make selling stolen goods more difficult.

Sometimes, even these strategies aren’t enough to stop ram-raiding criminals.

FlashBang: The Game-Changing Solution for Retailers

Deep Sentinel’s FlashBang is a revolutionary solution designed to stop ram-raiding criminals in their tracks. Combining advanced technology with rapid deployment capabilities, FlashBang offers retailers a powerful deterrent and immediate response system.

FlashBang uses bright strobe lights, loud sirens, smoke bombs, and pepper spray to disorient and incapacitate intruders. This powerful combination stops ram-raiders in their tracks and allows law enforcement to respond swiftly. Make them regret ever targeting your business.

FlashBang integrates seamlessly with Deep Sentinel’s PoE camera system and security monitoring service, providing retailers with enhanced visibility and control over their premises.

Fight Back Against Ram-Raiding: Protect Your Business Now

Ram-raiding is a growing threat that puts your business, employees, and community at risk. It’s time to take action and protect your store with Deep Sentinel’s proactive security solutions.

By implementing proactive security measures and leveraging innovative solutions like FlashBang, businesses can strengthen their defenses against this insidious form of burglary. Together, we can make our communities safer and more secure.

Protect what matters most with an immediate, high-octane response.