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
An 88-year-old jewelry shop owner is recovering after being shoved to the ground by one of the suspects who raided his store in a smash-and-grab robbery caught on camera.
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Pilar Arias, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Sarno’s crew also engaged in smash-and-grab robberies in which hundreds of thousands of dollars in gems were stolen from jewelry stores and then fenced at a Cicero pawnshop operated by the Outlaws motorcycle gang, according to prosecutors.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
In the first minute of stoppage time, Rennes substitute Ludovic Blas ran through to score, giving the Breton side a smash-and-grab 1-0 win.
—Tom Williams, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025
Restock Ave, a streetwear and sneaker shop in Phoenix, was the target of a smash-and-grab burglary early on July 24.
—Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for smash-and-grab
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Pilar Arias, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Sarno’s crew also engaged in smash-and-grab robberies in which hundreds of thousands of dollars in gems were stolen from jewelry stores and then fenced at a Cicero pawnshop operated by the Outlaws motorcycle gang, according to prosecutors.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
In the first minute of stoppage time, Rennes substitute Ludovic Blas ran through to score, giving the Breton side a smash-and-grab 1-0 win.
—Tom Williams, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025
Restock Ave, a streetwear and sneaker shop in Phoenix, was the target of a smash-and-grab burglary early on July 24.
—Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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 Sep. 2025.
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