smash-and-grab
adjective
chiefly British
—used to describe a robbery that is done by breaking a window of a car, store, etc., and stealing whatever can be taken quickly
a smash-and-grab robbery/thief
Examples of smash-and-grab in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sheriff’s detectives on Thursday arrested one person in a group of suspects accused of carrying out two smash-and-grab robberies several weeks apart at the same south Sacramento jewelry store.
—
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 10 May 2024
Advertisement The same technology has allowed police to identify suspects in smash-and-grab retail burglaries.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2024
Two approaches are gaining traction as California confronts the issue of retail theft, which was propelled to the top of the state’s political agenda this year by viral videos of smash-and-grab robberies and the proliferation of drugstores locking up basic goods.
—Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
The ad campaign by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office is in response to the rash of smash-and-grab robberies, home burglaries and other crimes that have garnered headlines.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2024
His opponents have blamed him for a rise in property crimes in some parts of the county, including a brazen smash-and-grab spree at luxury stores.
—Nicholas Riccardi, The Denver Post, 29 Feb. 2024
Yet residents and businesses are on edge with smash-and-grab thefts.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
Three suspects committed a smash-and-grab robbery around 5 p.m. Saturday at Great Lakes Crossing mall in Auburn Hills, stealing approximately $11,000 worth of jewelry from Helzberg Diamonds.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 23 Feb. 2024
Whenever the nation faces a safety threat – e.g., a high-profile shooting, a wave of smash-and-grab robberies or an act of terrorism – the public clamors for action and politicians and police agencies respond with proposals to increase their power.
—Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 16 Feb. 2024
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 10 May 2024
Advertisement The same technology has allowed police to identify suspects in smash-and-grab retail burglaries.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2024
Two approaches are gaining traction as California confronts the issue of retail theft, which was propelled to the top of the state’s political agenda this year by viral videos of smash-and-grab robberies and the proliferation of drugstores locking up basic goods.
—Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
The ad campaign by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office is in response to the rash of smash-and-grab robberies, home burglaries and other crimes that have garnered headlines.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2024
His opponents have blamed him for a rise in property crimes in some parts of the county, including a brazen smash-and-grab spree at luxury stores.
—Nicholas Riccardi, The Denver Post, 29 Feb. 2024
Yet residents and businesses are on edge with smash-and-grab thefts.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
Three suspects committed a smash-and-grab robbery around 5 p.m. Saturday at Great Lakes Crossing mall in Auburn Hills, stealing approximately $11,000 worth of jewelry from Helzberg Diamonds.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 23 Feb. 2024
Whenever the nation faces a safety threat – e.g., a high-profile shooting, a wave of smash-and-grab robberies or an act of terrorism – the public clamors for action and politicians and police agencies respond with proposals to increase their power.
—Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 16 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smash-and-grab.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near smash-and-grab
Cite this Entry
“Smash-and-grab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smash-and-grab. Accessed 17 May. 2024.
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