Ram-raiding

Ram-raiding

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.

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, 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 or obstructions such as bollards to discourage such attacks. ATM centres are also victims of this ram-raiding.

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.

In Culture

The practice was portrayed in the 1994 movie "Shopping".

The Australian Drama "Dangerous" features ram-raiding as a central theme.

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_yorkshire/6467475.stm BBC report about a ram-raid in Leeds.]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • ram-raiding — ramˈ raiding noun • • • Main Entry: ↑ram * * * ram raiding UK [ˈræm ˌreɪdɪŋ] US noun [uncountable] british the crime of driving a vehicle through a shop window in order to steal goods Thesaurus: crimes involving theft and trespasshyponym general… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ram-raiding — ram .raiding n [U] BrE informal the crime of driving a car into a shop window in order to steal goods from the shop >ram raid n ▪ a ram raid on a jeweller s shop >ram raider n …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • ram-raiding — ram raid|ing [ ræm ,reıdıŋ ] noun uncount BRITISH the crime of driving a vehicle through a store window in order to steal goods ╾ ram raid|er noun count …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • ram-raiding — UK [ˈræm ˌreɪdɪŋ] / US noun [uncountable] British the crime of driving a vehicle through a shop window in order to steal goods Derived word: ram raider noun countable Word forms ram raider : singular ram raider plural ram raiders …   English dictionary

  • ram-raiding — noun (U) BrE informal the crime of driving a car into a shop window in order to steal goods from the shop ram raider noun (C) …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • ram-raid — ram raids, ram raiding, ram raided 1) N COUNT A ram raid is the crime of using a car to drive into and break a shop window in order to steal things from the shop. [BRIT] A shop in Station Road was the target of a ram raid early yesterday. 2) VERB …   English dictionary

  • ram-raider — ramˈ raider noun • • • Main Entry: ↑ram * * * ram raider noun [countable] [singular ram raider plural ram raiders] …   Useful english dictionary

  • ram raid — noun Brit. a robbery in which a shop window is rammed with a vehicle and looted. Derivatives ram raider noun ram raiding noun …   English new terms dictionary

  • ram-raider — See: ram raiding …   English dictionary

  • Automated teller machine — cash machine redirects here. For the Hard Fi song, see Cash Machine. An NCR Personas 75 Series interior, multi function ATM in the United States …   Wikipedia

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