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 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.
Many companies have come up with solutions to ram-raiding.[1] Everything from electronic bollards to electronic barriers have been employed to keep property from the raiders.
Another solution is security guards, but teams of "round the clock" security are expensive and often not the most economical way of dealing with ram-raiding.