As smash and grab raids rise, are agents ready?

Estate agents should check their insurance policies following a wave of smash and grab raids recently by scooter gangs targeting branches, says a leading insurance broker. The problem was highlighted last week when a scooter gang duo broke into an estate agent branch in North London by attempting to smash the front window, only for the entire piece of glass to fall on one of their heads as it came off its moorings (pictured, right). The CCTV footage obtained by the Evening Standard shows one of the thieves being knocked to the ground before regaining his composure and stealing a large Apple iMac from the branch of Flats & Houses in Stamford Hill (pictured, below). The two were later arrested and are due to appear before magistrates in Haringey charged with burglary and aggravated vehicle taking. “I have lost track of how many examples I have seen on scooter gangs over the last few months,” says Oliver Wharmby of specialist property industry insurance broker Lonsdale (pictured, below). “We have seen three cases of “smash and grab” and one of vandalism in the last week alone. “Typically, agents who lease their branch are responsible for the shop-front window which is not…

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